President Trump signed a new order this week. It could change what happens to your old phone or laptop battery once you throw it out.
The order was signed Thursday, July 30. It gives the Commerce Department new power. Officials can now block certain exports of electronic waste, or “e-waste.”
That includes old batteries, circuit boards, and scrap metal. These items often contain critical minerals. Things like lithium, cobalt, tungsten, and nickel.
Right now, a lot of this material leaves the country. The U.S. exports almost 33,000 metric tons of e-waste every month, according to data cited by Reuters.
Two White House officials said the goal is to boost domestic recycling and counter China’s grip on materials vital to national security. They spoke on condition of anonymity. Bloomberg
The order uses the Defense Production Act. That’s a Korean War-era law. It lets the government direct industry toward national security goals.
The Secretary of Commerce now has authority to issue regulations, rules, and guidance to secure the supply of these materials. But nothing changes overnight. 104.1 WIKY
Important: the order does not immediately impose new export restrictions. Specific rules will depend on what the Commerce Department decides next. 104.1 WIKY
Why does this matter to ordinary families? Because America’s recycling industry has been struggling.
Several North American recyclers have faced serious financial trouble in the past 18 months. Li-Cycle and Ascend Elements both filed for bankruptcy. Bloomberg
Industry groups say U.S. recyclers often can’t compete. Domestic firms say they cannot compete with global buyers who pay above-market rates for scrap. Bloomberg
That means valuable material — and potential jobs — has been leaving the country instead of staying here.
The Trump administration has noted that 70 percent of U.S. imports of rare earth minerals come from China. The U.S. is fully dependent on imports for at least 15 critical minerals. WTVB
Not everyone sees this as a simple win. Environmental groups have raised concerns for years about where America’s e-waste actually ends up.
The Basel Action Network, an environmental group, has said this flow of e-waste allows a large portion of America’s electronics to be exported and processed under harmful conditions in Southeast Asia. WTVB
Some new U.S. recycling projects are already moving forward. In Oklahoma, companies including Blue Whale Materials are building out capacity. Bloomberg
What happens next is still unclear. The Commerce Department has not yet released the specific rules companies will have to follow.
For now, nothing changes for regular consumers. You can still recycle your old devices the same way you always have.
But for the recycling industry — and for America’s mineral supply chain — this order could be the start of bigger changes ahead.