IT Asset Disposition Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Asset Type (Computers/Laptops, Smartphones & Tablets, Peripherals), By End-use (IT & Telecom, BFSI, Healthcare), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global IT asset disposition market size was estimated at USD 20,513.0 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing electronic waste across the globe is the primary growth driver. According to Global E-waste Monitor Statistics (formed by the UN along with other associations such as the International Solid Waste Association, International Telecommunication Union, and UN Environment Programme), 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated in the year 2019, which has been anticipated to increase to 74 million metric tons by 2030. The increased generation of electronic waste has resulted in the high growth of the ITAD market.

Data theft is among the significant factors that have been decelerating the market's growth, owing to the secretive nature of the data handled by government agencies. However, many companies in the IT asset disposition market have been coming up with facilities for IT asset disposition, with special care taken towards data destruction, enabling the market to get back on track in terms of growth. For instance, in October 2022, NCS Global Services LLC (a U.S.-based IT asset disposition company) opened a new IT asset disposition facility in Los Angeles to cater to demand among West Coast customers. The facility is NAID AAA and ISO standards certified.

The company offers asset recovery, data destruction, and lifecycle management services. The presence of companies in the ITAD market that comply with various regulatory standards enables fewer chances of data theft, resulting in broader adoption of ITAD services among various businesses and government organizations. The wider adoption is expected to accelerate the growth of the market over the forecast period.

North America is home to major companies in the ITAD market, including Apto Solutions Inc.; CompuCom Systems, Inc.; Dell Inc.; and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP. The significant presence of such companies in the region has resulted in the higher adoption of ITAD services among businesses and government organizations. The high demand for ITAD solutions has resulted in several companies opening new facilities in the region. For instance, in January 2023, ERI (a U.S.-based ITAD solution provider) opened its new ITAD and electronic recycling facility in the U.S. state of Arizona. This new facility is the company’s 13th operational location and 9th full-scale recycling unit.

Key players engage in strategic partnerships to offer a better solution to gain traction in the market. The strategic initiatives include alliances, collaboration, and acquisitions. For instance, in May 2022, Vyta Ltd. (an Irish IT recycling company) announced the acquisition of FGD Solutions Ltd. (a U.K.-based IT asset disposal company), post an investment from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland (MML) of EUR 11 million. After the acquisition, FGD Solutions Ltd. rebranded under Vyta Ltd.

Similarly, in February 2022, Quantum Lifecycle Partners (a Canada-based ITAD provider) announced the acquisition of Ontario-based ITAD companies REfficient and TechReset. The acquisition would enable Quantum Lifecycle Partners to capture a broader ITAD market in the North and Latin America region. Such initiatives from ITAD companies are expected to positively impact the industry growth over the forecast period.

The high cost of ITAD solutions is among the significant factors derailing the growth of the IT asset disposition industry over the forecast period. Moreover, the need for greater awareness among various companies regarding disposing of IT assets has been another aspect troubling the market. For instance, in September 2022, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) fined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney USD 35 million for improper disposal of devices that contained customer Persona Identifying Information.

Although various businesses have been less responsible in properly disposing of their IT assets containing customer information, strict actions taken by various government organizations are expected to continue. It is likely to impact the market growth positively.

The increase in cloud-based computing has been another significant factor that has resulted in the high growth of the ITAD market. Companies are migrating from on-premises to cloud-based services owing to data security, environmental protection, and low cost. Cloud migration has resulted in high demand for the disposition of IT equipment such as storage devices, servers, network gears, and cables, among others. The transition towards cloud computing has also resulted in an increased number of data centers worldwide, which has further increased the demand for ITAD solutions for data centers.

Some of the companies have been focusing primarily on offering disposition solutions for data centers, which has further accelerated the growth of the IT asset disposition industry. For instance, Sims Lifecycle Services, Inc. announced its “Recycle the Cloud” strategic initiative in 2020. The Recycle the Cloud initiative was launched to increase the number of data center assets processed from 1.6 million in 2020 to 8.5 million by 2025.

Asset Type Insights

The smartphones & tablets segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR over the forecast period. The consumption of smartphones and tablets has been high over the years. For instance, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the number of wireless telephone subscribers in the country as of June 30th, 2022, was 1,147.4 million. The high number of smartphone/tablet users also means that the amount of waste generated is larger, which has been a significant contributor to the development of the smartphone and tablet segment.

Mobile phone wastage has been increasing over the years, which companies in the ITAD market have been trying to capture. For instance, according to the international Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) forum, in 2022, at a global level, 5.3 billion mobile phones were thrown away. The WEEE forum also states that electrical and electronic waste will increase to 74 million tons annually by 2030.

To address this concern and capture the market, companies are offering ITAD solutions for various devices, including computers, tablets, laptops, mobile, POS devices, and office equipment, among others. An example would be ERI, which offers ITAD solutions for all the products mentioned above, and many others. As a result of maintaining equilibrium in terms of the amount of e-waste and its disposition, the IT asset disposition industry will be on the rise over the forecast period.

End-use Insights

The IT & telecom segment is anticipated to occupy the largest revenue share by 2030. The growth of the telecommunication industry has been significant since the number of internet users has increased. For instance, according to The World Bank Group, 91% of Germans and 99% of Denmark's population accessed the internet in 2021.

The increased number of internet users has driven the requirement for assets such as switches, telecom towers, routers, and fiber optic cables, among others. This increased usage of IT assets has also resulted in increased wastage, which has contributed to the development of the IT & telecom segment.

The media and entertainment segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2030, which is attributed to the increased content consumption from major media companies. The increased consumption has resulted in companies like Netflix and Amazon utilizing cloud services to offer their content.

The increased number of data centers directly increases the usage of services and storage devices, among others, which in turn increases the waste of IT assets products by these data centers. This increased content consumption and expansion of media houses into remote parts of the world has resulted in an increased amount of e-waste, resulting in the growth of the media and entertainment segment.

The healthcare segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. ITAD solutions are adopted in healthcare institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations. The HIPAA security rule mandates ensure the confidentiality of electronically protected health information (ePHI) through appropriate physical, administrative, and technical safeguards.

Moreover, the large number of companies offering ITAD solutions for healthcare assets has been another factor that has contributed to the growth of the segment. Some major companies offering the same include Iron Mountain Incorporated, ERI, and Homeboy Recycling. Some of the major companies offering ITAD for healthcare assets are present across multiple countries, enabling those companies to capture the regional market, thereby driving the growth of the global IT asset disposition industry.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific is expected to occupy the largest share of the market throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the region is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the same period. The growth can be attributed to stringent regulations coming up in several Asian countries, which have forced businesses to opt for ITAD solutions, thereby driving this market growth. For instance, in November 2022, the Government of India notified its e-waste management rule, under which the following aspects were mentioned:

• Restricted use of hazardous substances

• Increased range of electronic goods

• Extended producer responsibility certificate

• Ensuring the recycling of 60% of electronic waste by producers of electronic goods

Europe has been working towards a greener planet, reducing pollution, among others; this trend can also be seen in the ITAD market, which is expected to result in Europe acquiring a significant revenue share by 2030. Europe has been proactive in the disposition of e-waste, which has resulted in regional growth.

Moreover, to cater to this demand, many companies based outside of Europe are entering the market. For instance, in July 2021, TES (a Singapore-based IT lifecycle service provider) opened a new facility in the U.K. The new facility will offer ITAD, managed deployment services, ICT refurbishment, and parts harvesting.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is competitive due to numerous prominent companies such as Dell Inc.; Iron Mountain Incorporated; Ingram Micro; and Sims Recycling Ltd. Companies have been focusing on strategic initiatives, which include product innovations, R&D investments, and value-added features, to expand their product portfolios and increase their market share. The companies engage in several strategic initiatives aimed at delivering solutions with enhanced functionalities.

For instance, in September 2022, tradefinity GmbH (a German IT asset disposition provider) joined EPC, Inc. (a U.S.-based ITAD solution provider). tradefinity GmbH will enhance its capabilities in Europe by joining forces and bringing 30 experienced employees to locations in Hamburg and Frankfurt. This collaboration will enable sustainable and secure ITAD services for large and medium enterprises throughout the region. Some prominent players in the global IT Asset Disposition market include:

• Apto Solutions Inc.

• CompuCom Systems, Inc.

• Dell Inc.

• Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

• IBM Corporation

• Ingram Micro Services

• Iron Mountain

• ITRenew

• LifeSpan International Inc.

• Sims Lifecycle Services, Inc.

IT Asset Disposition Market Report Scope

Global IT Asset Disposition Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global IT asset disposition market report based on asset type, end-use, and region:

• Asset Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Computers/Laptops

  • Smartphones and Tablets

  • Peripherals

  • Storages

  • Servers

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • BFSI

  • IT & Telecom

  • Government

  • Energy and Utilities

  • Healthcare

  • Media and Entertainment

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Singapore

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • UAE

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa