Repair Shops Struggle Amid Pandemic's Impact on Electronics Recycling

Refurbishers and recyclers face diminished supply of used devices and uncertainty about long-term consumer habits.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 8:55am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a tangle of circuit boards, wires, and electronic components in shades of neon blue and pink, conceptually representing the complex infrastructure of the electronics repair and recycling industry.The pandemic has exposed the fragility of the electronics repair and recycling ecosystem, which faces supply chain disruptions and uncertain consumer demand.Brockport Today

The coronavirus pandemic has created significant challenges for repair shops, electronics refurbishers, and recyclers. While demand for refurbished laptops, tablets, and other devices has increased as more people work and learn from home, the supply of used goods has plummeted as consumers hold onto their existing devices and businesses suspend equipment upgrades. Recyclers are also seeing a dramatic drop in e-waste collection, forcing them to operate with skeleton crews. Repair shop owners are navigating new safety protocols and an uncertain future, but some see an opportunity for the refurbished electronics market to grow if the pandemic changes consumer habits.

Why it matters

The pandemic's impact on the repair, refurbishment, and recycling of electronics highlights the fragility of these industries and the importance of building a more sustainable, circular economy for consumer tech. As people rely more on their devices for remote work and learning, access to affordable refurbished options and responsible e-waste management will be crucial. The long-term effects on consumer behavior could either bolster or undermine these businesses.

The details

Repair shops, refurbishers, and recyclers are facing a range of challenges due to the pandemic. The flow of used devices has slowed dramatically, as consumers hold onto their existing electronics and businesses suspend equipment upgrades. This has created backlogs for refurbishment shops and forced recyclers to operate with far fewer staff. At the same time, demand for refurbished laptops, tablets, and other devices has spiked as more people work and learn from home. Repair shops are also seeing an increase in requests for fixes related to remote work setups. However, owners say this initial surge in demand is starting to level off as people get settled in their new routines. Repair shops are also navigating new safety protocols, such as requiring customers to wash their hands and maintain distance, which adds complexity to their operations. Despite the difficulties, some in the industry see an opportunity for the refurbished electronics market to grow if the pandemic changes consumer habits and increases acceptance of used devices.

  • In the weeks after shelter-in-place orders went into effect, electronics recycler Sunnking experienced 'a frenzy' of activity.
  • In the months since the pandemic began, the flow of used devices heading to recyclers has dropped by as much as 75% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The players

HOBI International

A company that provides asset management services, taking used devices from businesses, then responsibly recycling or refurbishing them for resale.

Greeneye Partners

A firm that audits electronics recyclers, who have reported an uptick in tablet and laptop resale.

Sunnking

An electronics recycler and refurbisher in upstate New York that has seen a dramatic drop in intake of used devices.

Alexandre Isaac

Runs a board repair school in Toulouse, France, who has shifted his microsoldering work to his parents' garage during the pandemic.

Jessa Jones

The owner of iPad Rehab, a microsoldering and data recovery shop that has maintained a full staff working in masks.

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What they’re saying

“One of our premises … is that we are seeing people buy refurbished products (especially on the mobile side) that have never dabbled in this marketplace before. Our hope is that through the positive experiences we are creating with quality refurbished products, these customers will become lifelong refurbished buyers.”

— Craig Boswell, President and co-founder of HOBI

“As fast as this stuff went out, I think it's going to be slow to come back.”

— Adam Shine, Vice President of Sunnking

“The refurb industry, which provides a 30-50 percent discount on most phones, with a great quality, will certainly boom.”

— Alexandre Isaac, Repair school owner

“I usually don't think much of my job. I fix computers—or argue with people that something in particular shouldn't be fixed—and that doesn't seem like much. But right now, with so many people relying on their laptops for one reason or another … it's nice to feel like I'm doing something important. It may not be as vital and heroic as the work that doctors and nurses are out there doing every day, but it does feel like work with a real purpose.”

— Gabriel, Operations Manager, The Computer Cellar

What’s next

As the pandemic continues, repair shops, refurbishers, and recyclers will need to closely monitor consumer behavior and adapt their business models accordingly. They will also have to navigate ongoing supply chain and workforce challenges to meet the evolving demand for their services.

The takeaway

The pandemic has exposed the fragility of the repair, refurbishment, and recycling ecosystem for consumer electronics. While there are opportunities for these industries to grow if the crisis changes consumer habits, they face significant near-term obstacles in obtaining used devices and maintaining operations. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for building a more sustainable, circular economy for tech products.