# E-Waste Crisis: How Component Sense is Making a Difference

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2024-11-13
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 283
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference/

## Summary

Kenny McGee, founder and CEO of Component Sense, explains how his company tackles the e-waste crisis by redistributing excess, unused electronic components from major manufacturers before they become waste. He details the origins of Component Sense, which began in 2001 after he realized large distributors were refusing to handle clients' overstocked inventory following the Y2K boom and bust. McGee discusses the evolution of the broker network, the dangers of counterfeit chips, and the harsh realities of e-waste disposal in places like Ghana, where crude recycling methods cause severe environmental harm.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [1:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=87) The Origin of Component Sense
- [8:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=486) The Broker Network and Market Landscape
- [12:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=775) Counterfeit Chips and Quality Control
- [24:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=1447) Excess Stock and Obsolescence
- [28:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=1680) E-Waste Crisis in Ghana
- [38:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=2323) Crude Recycling and Environmental Impact
- [45:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference#t=2726) Solutions and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Component Sense (company)
- Arrow Electronics (company)
- Octopart (tool)
- Broker Forum (other)
- A2 Global (company)
- Smiths and Associates (company)
- Chip One (company)
- Avnet (company)
- Retronics (company)
- SanDisk (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Håvard Korsvoll, CTO at Circular Components](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-11-11-that-scoopshow-season-6-productronica-2021-havard-korsvoll-cto-at-circular-compo) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [It’s a Big Deal: ADI & Maxim | Green Age E-Waste Land | One Inspirational Step](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-17-its-a-big-deal-adi-maxim-green-age-e-waste-land-one-inspirational-step) (EE Times Current)
- [Recycle All Your Microcontrollers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-08-07-recycle-all-your-microcontrollers) (The Amp Hour)
- [Turning the E-Waste Stream Into a National Asset w/ Matt Bedingfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-21-turning-the-e-waste-stream-into-a-national-asset-w-matt-bedingfield) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-cb8186ab) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-11-13-e-waste-crisis-how-component-sense-is-making-a-difference. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to OnTrack.