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Industry Alert: Brace For a Printer Surge as Microsoft Ends Legacy Driver Support this Year

Just as the end of Windows 10 support triggered an unusually high PC refresh cycle, Microsoft’s decision to end legacy printer driver support in Windows 11 will force enterprises to retire functional hardware and create predictable volume surges for ITAD providers over the next 18 months, but this time, the obsolescence targets peripherals still in […] Continue reading below.
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Just as the end of Windows 10 support triggered an unusually high PC refresh cycle, Microsoft’s decision to end legacy printer driver support in Windows 11 will force enterprises to retire functional hardware and create predictable volume surges for ITAD providers over the next 18 months, but this time, the obsolescence targets peripherals still in daily use.

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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

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

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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.

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

Jan 7, 2026

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.

Compliance: What Recent BAN and EPA Actions Reveal About Systemic Compliance Weaknesses

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Recent findings from BAN and an EPA settlement with Apple reveal parallel weaknesses in downstream e-waste controls and upstream hazardous waste management. The analysis shows that compliance gaps are emerging across multiple points of the electronics lifecycle, indicating the need for stronger governance and verifiable operational systems.

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