ERI Advisor Highlights Untapped E-Waste Recycling Capacity at Defense Industrial Base Accelerator
Event summary
- Tyler Shegerian, ERI’s Strategic Advisor, spoke at the 2026 Defense Industrial Base Accelerator (DIBX) event in Philadelphia on September 3, 2026.
- Shegerian discussed the underutilized capacity for recycling critical minerals from e-waste in the U.S.
- The roundtable focused on turning DoW end-of-life electronics and batteries into critical mineral feedstock for defense technology.
- ERI claims it can exponentially increase inbound e-waste volumes without significant near-term capital expenditure.
- President Trump signed an executive order in July 2026 to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials.
The big picture
The U.S. Department of War is increasingly treating e-waste recycling as a strategic asset, aligning with broader government efforts to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals. ERI’s participation in the DIBX event underscores the growing intersection of defense needs and sustainable resource recovery. The administration’s recent executive order further solidifies this trend, signaling long-term regulatory and financial support for domestic recycling infrastructure.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Tailwinds
- How new export restrictions on critical-material waste streams will accelerate domestic recycling efforts.
- Capacity Expansion
- Whether ERI can sustain exponential growth in e-waste processing without additional capital investment.
- Industry Prioritization
- The pace at which critical mineral recycling shifts from a niche initiative to a national security priority.