Welcome to Compliance Standards LLC
Client Portal
Become a Client

Tracking Market Conditions

Part 1: 2025 in Retrospect: Redefined ‘Serious’ ITAD

2025 marked a transition point for IT Asset Disposition and electronics recycling. Multiple forces that had been building over several years converged within a single operating cycle, changing not only volumes and asset flows, but the fundamental expectations placed on ITAD providers. Continue reading below.
Number of readers who accessed this analysis : 314

Analysis of Structural Change in IT Asset Disposition and Electronics Recycling

2025 marked a transition point for IT Asset Disposition and electronics recycling. Multiple forces that had been building over several years converged within a single operating cycle, changing not only volumes and asset flows, but the fundamental expectations placed on ITAD providers.

In short, 2025 evolved with enforceable trade restrictions moving from theory to execution. The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline compressed one of the largest enterprise refresh cycles on record into a narrow window. Modern hardware architectures introduced data-sanitization challenges that legacy standards were not designed to address. At the same time, sustainability and disclosure regimes pushed ITAD outputs deeper into enterprise audit and assurance environments.

The combined effect of these transformative events was a reset of minimum viability thresholds. ITAD has become a critical function in the enterprise that could no longer operate as a loosely governed downstream recycling activity. In practice, it became a regulated technology-risk exit and data-control function embedded in global supply chains, intersecting directly with enterprise security programs, insurance considerations, and investor diligence.

Interviews conducted by Compliance Standards with enterprise leaders at the close of 2025 point to a clear shift in how ITAD providers are evaluated. Certification status and years of experience remain relevant, but they are not sufficient to address broad compliance and reporting requirements. What matters increasingly is whether an ITAD operating model is structurally compatible with post-2025 enforcement, security expectations, and disclosure requirements. Many existing models were not.

This report examines six structural dimensions that defined 2025 and explains how each is reshaping enterprise behavior, capital allocation, and the internal economics of ITAD platforms. It also outlines why incremental adjustments are proving inadequate in the face of cumulative regulatory, audit, and insurance pressure.

This analysis is reserved for clients subscribing to the Pulse Service.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

Subscribe to Pulse
Book a 90-Minute Analyst Presentation

Book Analyst

Author: David Daoud | Principal Analyst

David Daoud has researched the mainstream IT hardware market since 1996 and expanded into hardware disposition research in 2003. He has spearheaded the creation of IDC’s GRADE certification. Since then, David has been providing consulting and expert advice to companies looking to establish best practice in their IT equipment decommissioning and helped leading ITAD service providers assess demand, understand competition, and forecast what’s to come. David is currently the Principal Analyst at Compliance Standards, which focuses entirely on the end-of-life of IT equipment. He can be reached at 754-229-0095 or at ddaoud@compliance-standards.com

MORE ANALYSES:

SIMS and Iron Mountain Are Repricing the ITAD and Positioning it as a Primary Growth Engine

Feb 19, 2026

In this episode, David Daoud of Compliance Standards LLC examines how Sims Limited and Iron Mountain are repositioning IT asset disposition from an operational afterthought to a primary growth engine inside publicly traded platforms. Both companies recently reported approximately 70% year-over-year growth in their ITAD divisions. More importantly, they elevated Asset Lifecycle Management and Sims Lifecycle Services in their earnings narratives, capital allocation priorities, and forward guidance.

Management: From Legacy Drag to Competitive Lift: How ITADs Could Help Clients Cut Technical Debt

Feb 6, 2026

Technical debt has moved from a back‑office IT issue to a board‑level business problem, as legacy systems now drive customer churn, block AI programs, and consume a growing share of tech budgets. This report shows ITAD providers how to turn that pressure into revenue by positioning decommissioning as a modernization enabler rather than an end‑of‑life afterthought, mapping sector‑specific refresh waves in banking, telecom, retail, logistics, and more into concrete decommissioning pipelines. It also includes an executive snapshot quantifying the client upside (run‑rate savings, outage reduction, AI acceleration, ESG gains) and a detailed go‑to‑market guide that helps ITADs frame technical debt in business terms, win a seat at the refresh table, and productize offers like technical‑debt assessments, modernization‑linked playbooks, and AI‑readiness exit plans.

Takeways: Mitsubishi Materials investment in Elemental’s US e-scrap platform

Jan 8, 2026

Recent announcements indicate that Mitsubishi Materials has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in Elemental Group’s US e-waste platform, which operates through Colt Recycling. The transaction reflects a broader trend in which large metals and materials groups are seeking closer integration with upstream electronics recycling and pre-processing operations as part of their circular-economy strategies. A more detailed assessment of the strategic implications, execution risks, and what this transaction signals for the evolving relationship between IT asset disposition and metals recovery is available to subscribers.

SOME PREMIUM SERVICES:

OUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES

1. OFF-THE SHELF SERVICES

Analyst-on-Retainer

Gain flexible, on-demand access to our specialized industry analysts with the Analyst-on-Retainer plan. This service provides your organization with dedicated expert time each month to validate strategy, research competitors, and get direct input on critical trends in ITAD, sustainability, and AI. Empower your entire team—from sales to leadership—to make informed, data-driven decisions without the cost and commitment of a full-scale consulting project. This is the entry level service that provides you with full analyst focus and attention. To learn more and/or subscribe, follow this link.

Sector Pulse

Published research on the mega trends and factors affecting ITAD, sustainability and circular IT, from ESG, AI and IT decommissioning to plant technology and economics. To learn more and/or subscribe follow this link.

Risk Advisory

We provide comprehensive risk management and compliance solutions to safeguard your organization. Our expert services deliver assurance through formal reports like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA readiness assessments. We also strengthen your internal controls with IT SOX audits and manage your third-party vendor risks, ensuring your operations are secure, compliant, and resilient from every angle. This service is best suited for vendors who must upgrade their ISMS practices and companies on the end-user side looking to incorporate ISMS in their vendor selection and procurement requirements. Learn more here.

2. CUSTOM ENGAGEMENTS

Marketing Content

We produce unique content that clients can leverage in their marketing campaigns. With unique data from CS, clients can transform themselves into thought leaders. We do the work behind the scenes, helping customers improve their image, attract attention and win new customers. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.

GtM Support

There are two sections in this offerings. First is the consulting service to help you plan your go-to-market, sales, marketing and PR Strategies. We provide you with support to understand your prospective clients and competition. Then there is the execution with sessions to reach prospective clients. We leverage our relationships with media giants to reach an audience of IT services buyers and promote you with marketing and leads generations. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.

Competition Check

In our competitive anlyses, we assess the reputation of ITAD vendors from the perspective of their clients and employees. This service is best suited for end-user companies doing due diligence on their current or potential vendors, investment stakeholders and even ITAD executives interested in a different perspective on competition. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.

Industry Surveys

We conduct industry surveys to assess where the sector is headed. These surveys are typically multi-client sponsored.  We welcome companies interested in sponsoring these surveys. We also conduct ITAD-specific surveys, engaging with ITAD leaders to gauge the health of the sector and outlook. Contact us to learn more. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE. 

3. OUR OTHER PLATFORMS

The ITAD.Academy

Circular.IT.com

Research Platform

CHAT