Amanda Buros (00:13)
Today, we’re going to kick off a series called Inside the Vertical Advantage that discusses how vertical integration is reshaping electronics recycling, reuse, and sustainability. I’ll be your host, Amanda Buros, Vice President of OEM Solutions at dynamic lifecycle innovations.

We often hear customers say managing multiple vendors creates a lot more risk, more costs, and more headaches. So what if you could simplify all that with one process, one partner, and one chain of custody? To help us unpack that today, I’m joined by Jason Schott, Vice President of Recycling, who brings perspective on large-scale recycling programs and OEM partnerships, and Ashley Foreman, our Vice President of Corporate Services, who leads our ITAD practice and works closely with customers to protect data, recover value, and simplify asset disposition. So let’s dive in. Starting with our first question today, we’re going to kick it over to Jason. So Jason, from a recycling perspective,

Amanda Buros (01:06)
Where do you see those challenges show up most?

Jason (01:09)
So the technology stream is really diverse. It brings a lot of different products into our stream—things from cell phones that contain batteries to televisions that may have mercury bulbs in them and everything in between. I think really managing the diversity in products, as well as the individual customer needs or OEM needs to see all of those products through the supply chain. And every one of them may have different interests as far as what they’d like to see back, whether it’s through value or through compliance. So I think creating solutions that really meet all of those needs can be complex and require a lot of different approaches.

Amanda Buros (01:48)
Thanks, Jason. And Ashley, how does that compare to what ITAD leaders are up against?

Ashley Foreman (01:53)
Yeah, thanks, Amanda. From the ITAD side, we share one underlying root cause, and that would be complexity. ITAD leaders are under constant pressure to balance data security, chain of custody, and value recovery. In addition, they have to meet strict compliance and ESG goals. The customers that we work with talk about the challenges of managing multiple partners for logistics, resale, and recycling, which can create a lot of risk. The introduction of all those different vendors—the handoff between each—introduces a potential gap in data tracking and documentation, and that’s where things can really unravel. So for our ITAD leaders, they’re really looking more toward integrated solutions because at the end of the day, they need visibility, accountability, and confidence that nothing is falling through the cracks.

Amanda Buros (02:40)
Great. So let’s talk about defining the advantage of vertical integration a little bit. Vertical integration can sound like jargon, so let’s break it down for our listeners. Ashley, I think you started to touch on this, but when speaking with ITAD leaders, how do you describe what vertical integration really looks like in practice?

Ashley Foreman (02:57)
So I describe it as having complete visibility and control over every step of the asset’s life cycle—from pickup to final processing. At dynamic, that means we own and manage the entire chain: logistics, secure data destruction, resale, recycling, and reporting. Our customers get that all within one connected system, guided by one set of standards and one accountability model. That level of integration really strengthens the chain of custody and data security, but it’s also going to drive tangible results—reduced carbon emissions, better ROI, and better brand protection. Through the integrated model that we have here at dynamic, we can harvest parts or materials from non-resale assets in-house to maximize value and minimize environmental impact, while ensuring that we’re finding the next best life for all whole-unit material that has resale value. So for customers, it’s simpler, more secure, with less risk, stronger compliance, and measurable value—all within a single certified, auditable ecosystem.

Amanda Buros (04:01)
Excellent. Thank you. Jason, anything to add? What does that mean for recycling programs or OEMs that are managing extended producer responsibility?

Jason (04:10)
The number of programs that exist for EPR for electronics management across the United States can really vary from state to state and program to program. Having the capability of managing that even on the front side from a reporting standpoint and then working that through the needs of each individual program—whether it’s from different collection points or through the supply chain, picking the material up, getting it back to the facility, and then the diversity of products that are covered in there.

How do those actually get processed? So that shows up for dynamic in a way that we have an OEM program compliance group that can administer all the regulatory things and set up all of the programs that are required for manufacturers to be compliant, to be able to sell products into those states. And then once those programs are set up, we have the ability to facilitate and actually execute on those in-house. So whether it’s our logistics fleet picking the material up, getting it back to dynamic, and then working it through all of the different production cells to manage all of the different types of products that we may get in.

Some of those products require management of more toxic or hazardous materials. So it could get processed in a more manual way to isolate those materials and make sure those go to the right places. Other things may be able to be processed in a more efficient way from a value recovery standpoint through automated shredding technologies. Once those are done, we have an in-house outbound department that works very close with our compliance department. So we’re able to make sure that each one of those materials is managed to end markets in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Having that in-house allows us to make sure that we’re getting the most value for those materials and that they’re also flowing in a compliant fashion to protect the risk and the brand for our customers.

Amanda Buros (05:50)
Excellent. That’s a great segue into kind of our next point here—how dynamic does it differently. A lot of companies out there use multiple partners for logistics, compliance, resale, and recycling. It’s a lot of vendors to manage. Dynamic does it differently. We are one partner and one process. So Jason, can you help paint a picture of how that difference plays out for our recycling customers?

Jason (06:12)
So I think for dynamic, it really allows us to differentiate in a way that we can manage the diversity in all of those different products. A lot of other recyclers in the market may only focus on one or two items, meaning they have to be dependent on others to process the rest of that whole package of electronics that would come in through those streams. Having that managed all under one roof allows the supply chain to be managed centrally.

What that does is it allows you to control more of where those materials are going and ensure that they’re going to the right place. It also allows us to leverage, from a value perspective, the commodities and the products that are coming in to return that value back to our customers.

Amanda Buros (06:53)
Ashley, what does one partner, one process mean for ITAD customers concerned about security and compliance?

Ashley Foreman (06:59)
For ITAD customers, security and compliance are some of their greatest concerns. For those customers, one partner, one process means fewer handoffs, fewer vulnerabilities, and full accountability. They’re not just sending their devices to a vendor for logistics, another for data destruction, and a third for resale. With dynamic, it’s all handled within a closed loop—tracked, verified, and reported on in real-time. That means that from the moment your devices are picked up and they leave your facility, they’re managed under our system.

They arrive at our facility, go through the process of being serialized and tracked. We provide certificates of destruction and serialized tracking reports back to our clients, all the way through full disposition. Statements are provided to customers showcasing what happened to those assets at the end of their life—whether they go through resale, parts harvesting, or our materials commodity and recovery process. It never leaves our certified chain of custody.

It’s protected, the data is protected, compliance is ensured, and peace of mind is delivered back to our customers.

Amanda Buros (08:06)
Thank you. So at the end of the day, customers want outcomes. Let’s talk about the biggest advantages. From the ITAD side, Ashley, what do your customers value most about our vertically integrated model?

Ashley Foreman (08:19)
At the end of the day, they value trust and transparency—being able to see everything in one place. I’ve touched on serialized tracking, our certificates of destruction, resale reporting, and ESG metrics. It’s all integrated, all auditable, and they love the simplicity. They have one partner to hold accountable, which saves them time, reduces complexity, and gives them confidence that every asset is handled securely and sustainably. Integration eliminates duplication, so they often see better financial returns and stronger compliance and ESG performance—huge benefits our customers see from our vertically integrated model.

Amanda Buros (08:59)
And Jason, when we talk about recycling partners and OEM recycling managers, what benefits rise to the top for those customers?

Jason (09:08)
I would say compliance has to be number one. When you’re in legislative programs, compliance is the minimum—and anything less could risk your brand or your ability to sell products. So working with someone who understands what each of those individual laws requires and can meet those objectives is key.

Number two is program efficiency. How do we make it easy to work across such complex programs, materials, and requirements? Our team works hard to stay current and put together solutions that minimize challenges for our customers.

And third, value return. Working with a partner that can handle diverse products and complex programs efficiently allows us to deliver more value. We leverage technology and robust end markets through the supply chain to get the most value back and return that to our customers.

Amanda Buros (10:31)
Perfect, thank you. Sometimes the clearest way to show value can be through a story. So Jason, do you have a real-world example where integration helped a recycling customer simplify operations or potentially reduce risk?

Jason (10:45)
Yeah, really kind of just pulling everything together that we’ve been talking about. We work with some of the largest OEMs in the world, and what we do is build out programs across many—if not most—of the states that have EPR laws requiring manufacturers to participate in recycling their products to meet diversion objectives.

Building those out through a patchwork of different laws and ensuring compliance is tough. It’s hard to stay current. So we’ve got a team dedicated to making sure every time a law is changed or updated, we’re staying current, working with regulatory bodies in each state to ensure that we have compliance and our networks have compliance—from the way materials are brought in, processed, and then flow out to our downstream partners.

We also test and audit those supply chains. Our team audits downstreams to make sure materials are processed as they should be, and we use trackers to verify that materials flow as promised. That’s a way of protecting our customers as well as ourselves. Those are all important pieces in building strong, compliant programs.

Amanda Buros (12:09)
Ashley, how about one from ITAD? Maybe a real-world example where integration helped secure compliance or capture more value for a customer?

Ashley Foreman (12:18)
Yeah, we had a Fortune 500 customer that came to us experiencing exactly what we’re talking about. They were managing ITAD through multiple vendors and were facing data security gaps, inconsistent reporting, and lost resale value. They decided to find a partner who could consolidate everything under one model—and they chose dynamic.

We closed those gaps for them through our asset tracking process, secure reporting, certificates of destruction, and customer portal. They gained confidence through the transparency we provided. But the real difference was process flow—everything processed within our own facilities.

Resale-ready devices were remarketed through vetted channels, and non-resale equipment was harvested and responsibly recycled within our four walls. The result? A 40% increase in recovery value. They achieved complete regulatory compliance, total confidence in their data security process, and improved their bottom line by going with dynamic and our fully vertically integrated model.

Amanda Buros (13:42)
Great, thank you. So wanting to shed a little bit more light onto dynamic and dynamic’s processes—dynamic does a lot more than just recycling. Over the last two decades, we’ve spent a lot of time building multiple channels for value recovery and have heavily invested in our logistics capabilities.

Ashley, how do resale, wholesale, and parts harvesting create new value streams for ITAD customers, and how does dynamic play a role in that?

Ashley Foreman (14:09)
Value recovery is where the integrated model really proves itself. Because we manage both logistics and processing, we can quickly determine the best disposition path for every asset. We have robust channels for how we sell assets—whether that’s resale, parts harvesting, or through responsible recycling.

Our resale channels—using platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Newegg—drive maximum return for high-quality assets. But we ensure nothing goes to waste, so nothing will get landfilled. We also have in-house parts recovery. If a device’s whole unit isn’t eligible for resale, we recover valuable components to provide additional return to clients.

Because it all happens under one roof, we can guarantee secure handling, data integrity, and environmental compliance at every stage. That turns what used to be a fragmented process into a complete value life cycle—and ultimately increases bottom-line return for our customers.

Amanda Buros (15:28)
Thank you. Jason, Ashley touched on areas where our recycling division adds value back to customers. How do scrap channels, smelter relationships, and precious metal recovery give recycling customers confidence that they’re maximizing value? And can you also speak to how in-house logistics capabilities support that structure?

Jason (15:52)
Great question. I think you were touching on this earlier with some of our experience. Dynamic, almost two decades in the industry, has managed precious-metal-bearing materials and electronic scrap for a long time. Because we handle large volumes, we can work directly with specialized processors that deliver the best recovery results depending on the material.

Not every processor handles material the same way, and knowing who specializes in what makes a big difference. For example, cell phones, laptops, and memory processors—high in gold content—go to refiners optimized for those recoveries. Lower-yield materials like TV circuit boards go to others who specialize in maximizing recovery from those streams.

As we’ve improved automation and material separation, we’ve produced cleaner aluminum, steel, and other channels, allowing us to go more direct and recover more value for customers. Experience and quality standards are key to returning that value.

From a logistics standpoint, dynamic is both asset-based and brokerage-based. We own our own trucks and trailers and also manage logistics for others. That means we can control pickup, transport, and delivery using dynamic drivers trained to our compliance standards. Materials stay under the dynamic umbrella—protected from pickup through processing. That’s a huge value add for customers needing certified chain of custody and compliant handling.

Amanda Buros (19:18)
So this episode sets the stage for The Vertical Advantage series that we’re launching. Ashley, what can ITAD leaders expect in coming episodes?

Ashley Foreman (19:27)
ITAD leaders can expect a practical, real-world series that dives into how vertical integration strengthens every stage of the process—from secure logistics and compliance to resale optimization, recycling, reporting, and ESG performance. Each episode delivers real insights, not fluff, with actionable takeaways to help leaders simplify operations, reduce risk, and drive stronger returns. It’s about building smarter, more resilient programs that deliver peace of mind and measurable impact.

Amanda Buros (19:59)
And Jason, what will recycling managers find most valuable as we go deeper into logistics, compliance, reuse, resale, and ESG?

Jason (20:07)
I’d say the devil’s in the details. Learning which questions to ask and why. The industry is complex and operates in many ways, so it’s often what you don’t know that matters. Understanding how materials flow through the process, how risk is managed, and how value differentiation happens—that’s what will help recycling managers get the best outcomes.

Amanda Buros (20:42)
And if we had to boil today’s conversation down to one key point, Ashley, what would be the single most important thing you’d want to leave for ITAD leaders?

Ashley Foreman (20:51)
If there’s one takeaway, it’s that vertical integration is the smartest and most effective way for ITAD leaders to reduce risk while maximizing value. It’s the right way forward for ITAD leaders who want confidence, consistency, and measurable results.

Amanda Buros (21:06)
And Jason, what’s the key takeaway for recycling leaders that you’d like to leave with them today?

Jason (21:12)
We talked a lot about the benefits of working with a vendor that’s vertically integrated. Ask how value is recovered, how compliance is managed, and how the process is made easy. Those are the questions that ensure you’re working with the best vendor and building the best programs possible.

Amanda Buros (21:36)
Jason, Ashley, thank you both for your insights today. If you’re listening and wondering what’s coming next, please stay tuned. This is just the beginning of Inside the Vertical Advantage with dynamic.

Each conversation will bring real-world perspectives on how integration creates confidence, reduces risk, and delivers stronger outcomes for your organization. I’m Amanda Buros, and thank you for joining us on this first step of our journey. We’ll see you again next time.