2024 in Review: What happened in 2024 and what the future holds for ITAD Management, an interview with Grant Barton, CEO
S2S Group, December 2024
An interview with Grant Barton, CEO

What’s the Current State of the Recycling Industry?
Honestly, I think awareness of recycling and sustainability in the UK is at an all-time high. Businesses and individuals are really starting to recognise the importance of managing waste properly. Just look at the numbers – the UK government reported that in 2022, England produced 33.6 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste. That’s quite a drop from the 37.2 million tonnes we saw in 2018/19. It shows that efforts to reduce waste and recycle more are starting to pay off.
Apparently, the UK is second to Norway for the amount of e-waste we create – above much bigger countries such as the US.
Much of this waste is illegally exported to countries like India and China where illegal workers risk their lives every day to try and capture any value left in the waste such as copper and precious metals.
The massively growing demand for new products is fuelling this growing tech mountain with numbers expected to rocket in coming years. It’s important therefore to look at recycling in context with other alternatives. For instance – can we not use it all and reduce demand and therefore waste? Can we reduce the amount of equipment we buy? Or for reuse? Can we buy refurbished ourselves? Once we tackle these questions, then we can tackle recycling what we do have properly using the correct and authorised channels in the UK.
How Has the Recycling Industry Changed Over the Past 5–10 Years?
The biggest change I’ve seen is how technology has come into play. Smart systems using AI and robotics have completely changed how we sort and recover materials. It’s made everything faster and more efficient. This massive digitalisation has occurred over the past few years, meaning there is a whole raft of products around that were simply not there before. Vapes are a perfect example of this, many of these being specifically designed for single use.
The way products are designed and sold means that repair is not always easy. Mobile phones, for example, repairs are so expensive that users choose to buy new instead of repair (2024 You Gov Survey showed 53% bought new due to high repair costs). Everyone wants the newest model right, but many of the new products mean the older generation devices are discarded earlier than they should be. Some of this is due to design also as many products are simply not designed to be repaired or software issues mean backward compatibility becomes an issue. The Right to Repair Regulation 2021 and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation should help with these things in the future but manufacturers and users need to step away from the throw-away culture as soon as possible.
Having said that, I have seen a big shift in attitudes. Businesses I speak to are taking sustainability more seriously, partly because their customers expect it and partly because it’s good for the bottom line. The pandemic also had a big impact. With so many people working from home, there’s been a surge in demand for laptops and other IT equipment. But what’s interesting is that companies are holding onto their devices longer, trying to get the most out of them before replacing them. That’s where ITAD providers like us come in, helping them dispose of those devices responsibly when the time comes.
What Has Made the Biggest Impact on the Industry?
I’d say it’s a mix of things. Technology has been a huge driver, with innovations making recycling processes more efficient. But regulation has also played a big role. Laws like GDPR have made businesses really focus on secure data destruction when they’re getting rid of old IT equipment. It’s no longer just about recycling; it’s about making sure sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
And then there’s the consumer side of things. People care more about sustainability now, and that’s putting pressure on businesses to show they’re doing the right thing. It’s all connected, really.
For us, I would suggest that batteries have had the biggest effect on the industry over the years. At one time a handful of products had built-in power sources and now with changing battery technology, many more products come with batteries included or indeed have batteries built in. This can make recycling much more difficult as the batteries cannot be accessed easily and indeed the product cannot be simply shredded due to dangerous battery chemistry. This means using a recycling partner who knows what they are doing is even more important. There are many stories about fires at facilities and many of these are caused by the shredding or even storage of batteries.
Have Trends Dictated a Shift in the Industry?
Absolutely. For one, businesses are moving away from physical servers and on-premises hardware to cloud-based solutions. That’s reduced the demand for certain IT assets but also created a need to properly decommission all that legacy equipment.
The pandemic also accelerated remote working, which has had a knock-on effect on the industry. Companies now have IT assets spread across employees’ homes, and that’s made managing and recycling those assets a bit more complex. That’s where we’ve been able to step in and provide solutions.
Which Industries Generate the Most E-Waste?
It’s a tough one to pin down because it’s not always about volume. Some industries, like healthcare, government, and financial services, generate a lot of e-waste because they rely heavily on IT equipment. But for them, the focus is often on data security. They’re dealing with sensitive information, so they need to make sure their data is properly wiped before anything gets recycled.
We work with clients from all sorts of industries across the UK, so we see a bit of everything. But I’d say those sectors—healthcare, government, finance—are where the need for secure and responsible e-waste recycling is highest.
What Are the Main Challenges Facing the Industry?
Budget constraints are a big challenge. A lot of businesses are holding onto their IT equipment for as long as possible, which makes sense financially, but it does mean we’re often dealing with assets that are well past their prime.
Another challenge is data security. As technology gets more advanced, so do the methods needed to securely erase data. Companies can’t afford to cut corners here because the consequences of a data breach are huge.
And then there’s the pace of change. Technology is evolving so quickly that recycling facilities and ITAD providers have to constantly adapt to handle new types of e-waste. It’s a lot to keep up with, but it’s exciting too. The main challenge is this constant change meaning there are always new challenges!
It’s essential to pick the right partner to ensure secure and compliant ITAD services have been provided.
How Does E-Waste Recycling Impact Businesses?
The impact is overwhelmingly positive. For one, it can save businesses money. By refurbishing and reselling old IT equipment, they can offset some of their costs.
Then there’s the environmental angle. Recycling IT assets instead of sending them to landfills helps businesses hit their sustainability targets, which is something clients and customers really care about these days.
We’ve worked with clients like a major recruitment firm that managed to divert 18 tonnes of e-waste from the landfill. That’s not just good for the planet—it’s a great story for their brand too.
Why Should Companies Prioritise E-Waste Recycling?
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Clients, customers, and even employees want to see that businesses are walking the talk when it comes to being green. Recycling IT assets is one of the easiest ways to do that. It’s good for the environment, it ensures compliance with data protection laws, and it can even save businesses money.
At S2S Group, we’ve got a tool called Trakk-It that lets clients see every step of the recycling process. It’s all about transparency and giving them peace of mind.
We also practice what we preach and support the UN Sustainable Goals – specifically numbers 8, 12 and 13 which cover economic growth, responsible consumption and tackling climate change. Reducing waste is an essential part of most business strategies towards their Net Zero goals. E-waste is the perfect place to start as there are many great ways to get the equipment collected, treated, and recycled as well as the environmental benefits. The right kit could provide financial benefits too. In addition, data protection is always taken care of as long as users choose the right disposal partner
Do You Think the Government Could Be Doing More to Support the Industry?
Definitely. The government could do a lot more to make things easier for the ITAD industry. For one, clearer policies around e-waste and sustainability would help. They could also offer incentives, like tax breaks or grants, to encourage businesses to recycle properly.
There’s no doubt that new technology and AI will bring a massive increase in e-waste and unless the right to repair and the design of products is addressed through legislation, the growing mountain of e-waste will continue to rise.
It sometimes feels like the industry’s underappreciated, considering how much we contribute to reducing waste and supporting the circular economy. A bit more recognition and support would go a long way.
What is the Future of E-Waste Management?
The future is all about innovation and sustainability. In the next 5 – 10 years, I think we’ll see more advanced technologies like AI-driven sorting systems and blockchain for tracking assets. There’s also a big push towards the circular economy, where businesses see old IT equipment not as waste but as something with value that can be refurbished or reused. Policies like Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes are going to shake things up too. They’ll make businesses take more responsibility for the waste they produce, which is a good thing.
More companies are asking to reuse and repair their assets – it’s important as a business that we embrace both recycling and destruction options and have the capabilities to provide both. There is no doubt AI will influence the sector too. This could be a raft of new products with built-in AI or perhaps technology that helps recyclers through AI such as product recognition or perhaps a combination of both.
At S2S Group, we’re keeping an eye on all these developments. We’re ready to adapt and help our clients navigate the changes so they can stay ahead of the curve.
What New Technologies Are Emerging in E-Waste Disposal?
There’s some really exciting stuff happening right now. AI and machine learning are making sorting and recycling more efficient. Chemical recycling methods are helping recover valuable materials, especially from things like batteries.
We’re also seeing robotics being used to dismantle electronics piece by piece. It’s safer and more precise than doing it manually. And then there’s blockchain, which is great for tracking the lifecycle of devices and making sure they’re properly recycled.
These innovations are pushing the industry forward, and we’re excited to see how they’ll help us and our clients manage e-waste more sustainably.
What Does the Future Look Like for S2S Group and Its Customers?
We’re feeling really positive about the future. The past few years have been challenging for everyone, but we’ve got a solid base of loyal clients who trust us to deliver.
A more sustainable circular business model that sees both products being repairable and the customer’s willingness to choose second-user products that have been repaired and data erased. The users would have clear costs of the options available to them in terms of actual cost and environmental costs, so they can make informed decisions.
We have a hands-on approach to this and will guide customers through the process of what exactly they need. Even with all the digital tools we use, we still make time to meet our clients face-to-face and really understand their needs. That personal touch makes a big difference.
As for the future, we’re excited to see how new technologies will improve.
To find out more about how S2S Group can help you dispose of your IT assets, please contact one of our team based in Rotherham.