National Conference on Reuse: E-Waste

1
National Conference on Reuse E-Waste
E-Recycling

• Jessica Brodey
• September 16, 2009

2
Topics

• What is E-Waste?
• What are E-Waste Laws?
• Why does this matter?
• Develop E-Waste Policies and Procedures

3
E-Waste

• Informal name for electronic products at the end
  of their "useful life" that are discarded into
  our nations waste stream.
• May include
• computers
• televisions
• VCRs
• Stereos
• Copiers
• fax machines 
• other common electronic products

4
E-Waste

• According to the Consumer Electronics Association
  (CEA), Americans own approximately 24 electronic
  products per household.
• Much e-waste may be refurbished or recycled
• Instead most e-waste is discarded in landfills.
• E-waste constitutes only two percent of the
  municipal solid waste stream, but that percentage
  is increasing annually.
• In 2007, Americans disposed of approximately 2.5
  million tons of e-waste.

5
E-Waste

• E-waste items may be dangerous to the environment
  when thrown into a landfill.
• Lead (used in television and computer cathode ray
  tubes and solder)
• Mercury (used in bulbs to light flat panel
  monitors)
• Flame retardants (used in plastic cases and
  cables)
• Cadmium (used in ni-cad rechargeable batteries
  for laptops and other portables)
• Cost to States and those managing landfills for
  disposing of e-waste is exorbitant.

6
E-Waste Laws

• In response to the rapid increase of e-waste
  entering our nations waste stream, many states
  enacted E-Waste laws.
• Regulate the disposal of e-waste in landfills.
• Most of these laws address TVs, computer monitors
  and laptop computers with screens over 4 inches.
  
• Different Approaches
• Disposal bans
• Fees for disposing of e-waste in landfills
• Recycling fee to consumers at the point of sale
• Apportion the costs for disposing of these items
  in landfills to the manufacturers.
• The National Center for Electronics Recycling
  maintains a list of current E-Waste Laws on their
  website, along with a map identifying the
  different type of laws in effect in each state.

7
E-Waste Laws
Map of Current Electronics Recycling Laws in
Effect. National Center for Electronics
Recycling. October 14, 2008.
8
E-Waste Laws

• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri

• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

9
E-Waste Laws

• Federal Regulations
• In August 2005, EPA finalized the
  mercury-containing equipment component of the
  original proposed rule.
• In July 2006, EPA has also finalized a regulation
  governing the waste management requirements for
  Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) that was originally
  proposed in 2002.  The CRT rule became effective
  on 1/29/07.

10
E-Waste

• International Laws
• The BAN Amendment to the Basel Convention
  prevents the Organization for Economic
  Cooperation and Development (OECD) Countries, the
  European Union and Lichtenstein from exporting
  e-waste to non-OECD countries.
• OECD countries include Australia, Austria,
  Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
  Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
  Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea,
  Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,
  Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, South
  Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United
  Kingdom, United States.

11
Why does this matter?

• There are many reasons that AT Reutilization
  Programs should care about e-waste
• Social Responsibility. Reusing and recycling
  these materials from end-of-life electronics
  conserves our natural resources and avoids air
  and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas
  emissions that are caused by manufacturing new
  products.
• Support Community. Donating old electronics
  supports schools, low-income families, and
  non-profits by providing needed electronics, and
  dovetails with the mission of AT Reutilization
  Programs.
• Legal Responsibility. Many AT Reutilization
  programs dispose of e-waste during the course of
  their activities. It is important to abide by
  all existing State, Federal and International
  laws.
• Producer responsibility laws could pose a
  possible liability concern to AT Reutilization
  Programs.
• BAN Amendment to the Basel Convention

12
E-Waste Policies and Procedures

• It is critical for organizations to determine
  their policies and procedures for disposing of
  electronic equipment.
• Collection policies
• Weed items that will lead to significant waste
  disposal may be a cost involved if you do not
  turn down unusable equipment
• Assignment of Responsibility
• Determination of usability
• Storage
• End-of-life Disposal
• State regulations on disposal
• Profit from parts?
• Donating/shipping overseas (BAN Amendment)
• Downstream Recyclers

13
E-Waste Policies Procedures (cont)

• Downstream providers.
• Identify a list of responsible recyclers.
• Check with a state agency that deals with
  recycling, such as the state Environmental
  Protection Agency, Department of Natural
  Resources, Department of Environmental Quality,
  or Department of Commerce.
• Contact Local municipality or solid waste
  district to learn if they have electronics
  collection programs or events
• Consumer Electronics Association, Electronic
  Industries Alliance, and Earth 911 web sites
  identify electronic equipment recyclers in many
  areas around the country.
• Certification programs for recyclers EPA
  Guidelines

14
E-Waste Policies Procedures (cont)

• EPA recycling audit tools
• End of Life Management page on the Federal
  Electronics Challenge web site
• Checklist for the Selection of Electronic
  Recycling Services (PDF).

15
Contact

• Jessica Brodey
• jbrodey_at_jmbpolicy.com
• [phone]