ERI’s Aaron Blum Shares Key Insights on ITAD Trends and Responsible E-Waste Recycling at E-Scrap 2025
At the annual E-Scrap Conference 2025, held last week in Grapevine, Texas, Aaron Blum, Co-Founder and Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI, the nation’s leading provider of material resource recovery, ITAD (Information Technology Asset Disposition), mobility, and secure data destruction services, took center stage as part of the conference’s headline plenary panel.
The session, titled “State of the Industry: What Macro Trends Mean for Electronics Recovery,” opened the event with an in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of electronics recycling and ITAD. Blum joined a distinguished panel of experts, including Amanda Tischer Buros of Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations and Todd Zegers of CXtec. The panel was moderated by Sarah Kim of E-Reuse Services Inc., who guided a robust conversation around the macroeconomic, environmental, and technological factors driving the e-waste industry forward.
The audience, composed of hundreds of recycling professionals, sustainability advocates, manufacturers, and policymakers, responded enthusiastically as Blum and his peers explored the fast-evolving landscape of electronics recovery. The panelists addressed critical issues such as global material supply chains, the growing importance of secure data management, and the increasing corporate and governmental emphasis on sustainability and circular economy practices.
“We’re grateful to have been invited by our friends at E-Scrap to participate in these spirited discussions about where our industry is headed,” said Blum. “It’s essential that we continue to harness innovation, adopt emerging technologies, and evolve our practices to meet the complex challenges ahead. At the same time, we must never lose sight of our responsibility to ensure safe, ethical, and environmentally sound recycling—and the secure destruction of data that protects both businesses and individuals.”
The E-Scrap Conference has long been recognized as one of the most influential gatherings in the electronics recycling sector. Each year, the event attracts more than 1,200 attendees from over 35 countries, bringing together professionals from across the ITAD, recycling, and sustainability ecosystems. The 2025 conference featured a bustling exhibition hall, hands-on product teardown demonstrations, interactive workshops, and an extensive series of presentations and Q&A sessions with industry leaders, technology innovators, and environmental policymakers.
Throughout the event, attendees discussed key topics such as the rise of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, the impact of global trade regulations, the push for improved materials recovery efficiency, and the integration of artificial intelligence and automation into recycling processes. The shared goal: to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and circular economy for electronic devices.
As one of the industry’s foremost thought leaders, ERI continues to set the standard for sustainability, data security, and operational excellence. The company is recognized as the first material resource recovery, ITAD, and mobility recycling firm to achieve both carbon neutrality and zero waste across all operations. ERI holds top certifications from every leading environmental, health, safety, and data security oversight organization, ensuring that every device it processes is managed in the most responsible and secure manner possible.
Among its notable achievements, ERI is the only company in its sector to achieve carbon neutrality at all of its U.S. facilities. It was also the first to earn ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications, underscoring its unwavering commitment to data protection and cybersecurity. With eight certified facilities nationwide, ERI has the capacity to process over one billion pounds of electronic waste each year, serving businesses and consumers in every ZIP code in the United States.
ERI’s leadership at events like E-Scrap underscores the company’s continued dedication to shaping the future of the recycling and ITAD industries. Blum’s participation reflects ERI’s mission to drive innovation while maintaining the highest possible standards of environmental stewardship and data protection.
As the global electronics industry continues to grow—and the volume of retired devices expands—ERI remains focused on advancing responsible recycling solutions that protect the planet’s resources and safeguard sensitive data. By combining cutting-edge technology, a zero-waste philosophy, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, ERI is paving the way for a cleaner, safer, and more circular future.
