The Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) is a $3.95M challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). The prize aims to stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from electronic scrap (e-scrap).
E-scrap—which includes mobile phones, home appliances, medical or office equipment, and anything else powered by electricity—represents the fastest growing waste stream globally, with e-scrap generation expected to double between 2014 and 2030. Only 17.4% of e-scrap was collected and recycled globally in 2019, discarding 83% of e-waste and $57B in raw material value. However, e-scrap recovery faces numerous roadblocks, including a fragmented recycling value chain, a complex and dynamic feedstock, and a rapidly evolving end-use market. In response, E-SCRAP is challenging American entrepreneurs to revolutionize critical material recovery and reshape the future of sustainable manufacturing.
E-SCRAP is not just a competition; it’s a catalyst for change. By addressing challenges in the e-scrap recycling value chain, competitor teams can each win up to $800,000 in cash prizes and $150,000 in national laboratory analysis support over the course of the three-phase competition.
The prize is open to competitors looking to:
Build partnerships across the recycling value chain to optimize and integrate critical material separation and recovery technologies.
Develop and demonstrate innovations along the recycling value chain to enhance the recovery of critical materials from e-scrap.
Select at least one challenge (technical, supply chain, or related logistics hurdle) that needs further development and establish high impact opportunities (co-recovery, feedstock flexibility, information share, material benchmarking…) that will increase the domestic supply of critical materials from e-scrap.
Create or enhance supply chains to increase material circularity (e.g., accelerating connectivity between collection, sorting, pre-treatment, processing, refining, validation, and material qualification)
Prize Structure
The three phases of E-SCRAP prioritize the circularity of materials and reduction of e-scrap, identifying solutions that expand beyond a single-use life for electronics and encouraging reuse of product materials. The cash prizes and assistance awarded in Phases 1 and 2 are intended to support teams as they advance in the competition.
Phase 1 – Incubate
Competitors will propose solutions that substantially increase the amount of recovered critical materials from e-scrap used in U.S. manufacturing. Up to 10 winners will receive $50,000 in cash and $30,000 in national laboratory analysis support.
Competitors will prototype their innovation and begin collecting and/or generating data that can be used to optimize technoeconomic strategy and life cycle impacts between partners along the recycling value chain. Winners will receive $150,000 in cash and $120,000 in national laboratory analysis support.
Phase 3 – Demonstrate
Competitors will begin implementing their innovations and propose their plans to scale their solution. Phase 3 winners will receive $600,000 in cash.
Guidelines
Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
Are you looking to leverage a partner for your E-SCRAP submission? Join us at our partnerships event on August 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET to find your dream partner within the e-scrap value chain.
The event aims to catalyze collaboration and forge partnerships that are crucial for enhancing the recycling and recovery of critical materials from electronic scrap across the United States. This event will convene leading companies, organizations, and government entities at the forefront of pioneering innovative approaches to e-scrap recycling and material recovery.
Not sure if you should join? By creating a partnership, you may benefit from enhanced resource utilization, access to specialized knowledge and skills, and continuous improvement and innovation for your solution. Partnerships are also integral for later phases in the prize to ensure your solution is integrated and optimized into the e-scrap value and can move towards full application.
The information provided on the registration form will also be available via the Prize Teaming resource.
Did you miss the second informational webinar from last week? Don't worry! A recording of the second informational webinar, covering eligibility, deadlines, submission requirements, and more, is now available. If you missed this valuable session, stream it now and/or view the accompanying slides to catch up on any prize details you may have missed. Questions asked from this webinar are available to view on the HeroX Forum.
Don't forget: The deadline to submit your Phase 1 entry to E-SCRAP is September 4, at 5 p.m. ET.
There’s still time to reach out to prize partners, and , who are happy to review your submission and provide guidance. You can also use the public HeroX Forum to ask questions and spark discussions with HeroX community members or email with additional questions.
Join us tomorrow, June 18, at 12 p.m. ET, for an informational webinar to learn about the new ~$4M Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP). This new prize is designed to stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from e-scrap.
The goal of the prize is to to stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from electronic scrap (e-scrap). E-SCRAP will award $50,000 to 10 competitors in Phase 1: Incubate.
Register now to join the Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) Informational Webinar on June 18 at 12 p.m. ET. This ~$4M prize challenges competitors to identify opportunities that optimize material separation technologies, enhance recovery of critical materials, or stimulate circular supply chains to enhance the domestic production and utilization of vital critical materials from electronic waste.
Competitors in E-SCRAP will substantially increase the production and use of critical materials recovered from electronic waste.
The informational webinar will present prize goals, timeline, prizes, eligibility requirements, and more. Plus, prize administrators will answer your questions live!
Mark your calendars! Join us on June 18 for an informational webinar about the Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP).
This prize encourages the development of technologies that validate, optimize, and integrate critical material recovery, promoting sustainable practices and supporting DOE's vision for a resilient, secure, and environmentally just critical minerals and materials supply chain.
Prize organizers of this ~$4M prize will share the prize timeline, goals, awards, and eligibility requirements. Plus, they’ll answer your questions about the prize live, so make sure you join to get your questions answered!
