The failure of consumers to recycle their personal devices could lead to shortages of the precious metals needed to build new products.

A recent survey by Tanaka Precious Metals found 62% of consumers claiming to know how to recycle their smart devices. Yet only 16% were actually doing so. The spotty success of high-tech recycling initiatives threatens to disrupt releases of the latest products by manufacturers such as Apple. In fact, the advent of the coronavirus pandemic saw “panic” buying of raw materials needed for the making of new mobile phones and other personal devices. On this episode, we explore the ins and outs of high-tech recycling with Tanaka vice president William Crockett. He lays out the benefits of recycling, both from an environmental and product-availability standpoint. And he tells us whether high-tech manufacturers are ready for a surge in recycled products — assuming that consumers suddenly alter their behavior. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

Tanaka’s survey of smart-device trends, and their impact on manufacturers.