5 for Five Series
5 for Five Podcast 22 - ERI | John Shegerian
5 for Five Series
August 25, 2026
5 for Five Episode 22: John Shegerian of ERI
In this episode of 5 for Five, Tim Ridderbos sits down with John Shegerian, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the largest fully integrated ITAD and electronics recycling company in the U.S., to discuss the rapidly growing e-waste stream and the enormous opportunity to recover the valuable materials already contained in obsolete electronics.
John explains why responsible electronics recycling has become increasingly important as demand for critical minerals and rare earth materials grows, and why keeping these resources in circulation is essential to building more resilient domestic supply chains. With only a fraction of the world's e-waste currently being responsibly recycled, the opportunity for the recycling industry is significant.
John shares insights on:
The Growing E-Waste Challenge - John explains why electronic waste continues to outpace other waste streams, and why the enormous volume of unrecycled electronics represents both a global challenge and a major opportunity for responsible recyclers.
Recovering Critical Materials at Home - Learn why critical minerals and rare earth materials have become a growing focus for governments and businesses, and how recycling obsolete electronics can help reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
How AI Is Transforming Electronics Recycling - Hear how ERI is using AI, robotics and automation to process material faster, produce cleaner recovered commodities and improve efficiency throughout its operations.
Building a Circular Future for Batteries - John discusses ERI's partnership with Redwood Materials, the recovery of lithium-ion batteries, and ERI's own approach to recycling alkaline batteries with recovery rates approaching 98%.
Why Collaboration Is the Way Forward - From LS MnM and Alcoa to Redwood Materials and international partners, John shares why strategic collaboration has been central to ERI's growth and why he believes the future of circular business will be built through partnerships.
Key Timestamps
00:15 – Meet John Shegerian, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI
00:47 – The growing e-waste challenge and opportunity
02:45 – Critical minerals, rare earths and domestic recovery
04:55 – How AI and robotics are transforming electronics recycling
06:09 – Battery recycling and ERI's partnership with Redwood Materials
07:31 – Why collaboration is critical to building circular systems at scale
If you're interested in electronics recycling, critical minerals, AI and automation, resource recovery, or the future of the circular economy, this episode is for you.
Subscribe to the 5 for Five podcast for fast, focused conversations with leaders in manufacturing, sustainability, recycling, and innovation.
🔗 Connect with John Shegerian