John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the nation’s leading material resource recovery, ITAD and tech reuse and recycling company, has been recognized as one of the “49 Influential Thought Leaders in Waste Collection and Recycling Services” for 2026, according to Clarity.

Shegerian is one of 49 recycling innovation leaders who were honored with inclusion on the list. Compiled by Jonno White, founder of Clarity Group Global, the list’s selection criteria focused on documented contribution. To be included, a person needed to have a verifiable body of work in the waste, recycling, or circular economy space, an active role as of 2025 or 2026, and either a position of operational scale, a published research record, a journalistic track record covering the sector, or a documented policy or campaign achievement that shifted outcomes.

The list deliberately spans operational executives, policy architects, journalists, researchers, advocates, and educators because the sector requires all of those functions to work. Geographic coverage of the list is global, with recognized thought leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, and parts of Asia and Africa.

Shegerian has been recognized for his groundbreaking work leading ERI. Thanks to its innovative technologies designed to further the circular economy, such as A.I. and robotics, ERI has the capacity to responsibly process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every zip code in the United States. Also noted is Shegerian’s work hosting the Impact Podcast, which has become one of the most widely listened to sector and sustainability interview programs, with guests including major corporate sustainability leaders, policy figures, and circular economy entrepreneurs.

In his coverage, White noted that “ERI's combination of operational scale and cybersecurity differentiation, in a market where data security risk now drives the procurement decisions for most large enterprise IT asset disposition contracts, has made it one of the most commercially successful e-waste businesses in the sector.”

“What a tremendous honor to be named alongside this list of visionary innovators, journalists, experts and colleagues from all over the world,” said Shegerian. “We’re proud of what we do at ERI – protecting people, the planet and privacy…and keeping millions of pounds of toxic e-waste out of landfills. Being recognized by Jonno White and Clarity as part of this prestigious list is a powerful reminder that we’re doing the right thing and helps inspire us to continue with our commitment to do more. I am truly grateful and humbled.”

ERI is the nation’s leading material resource recovery, ITAD and tech reuse and recycling company. ERI is certified at the highest level by all leading environmental and data security oversight organizations to de-manufacture, recycle, and refurbish every type of electronic device in an environmentally responsible manner. It is the first company in its industry to achieve ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications for security and data protection. ERI has the capacity to process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every zip code in the United States. ERI’s mission is to protect people, the planet and privacy. For more information about circularity, ITAD services and e-waste recycling at ERI, call 1-800-ERI-DIRECT or visit https://eridirect.com.

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ERI's combination of operational scale and cybersecurity differentiation ... has made it one of the most commercially successful e-waste businesses in the sector.