Electronics Recycling Workshop

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Electronics Recycling Workshop

• Presented in partnership by the
• New Mexico Recycling Association and the National
  Recycling Coalition
• Sponsored by Intel Corporation
• June 7, 2002

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?
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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products

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Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments, 1997-2005
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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans

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Average Product Lifespan (in years)
Product First Life Total Lifespan
Desktop PC - 386 4 4-6
Desktop PC 486 3-4 4-6
Desktop PC Pentium I 3 4-5
Desktop PC Pentium II 2-3 3-4
Mainframe computer 7 7
Workstation computer 4-5 4-5
CRT Computer Monitor 4 6-7
CRT TV 5 6-7
Notebook PC 2-3 4
Computer peripherals 3 5
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Lifespan of PCs1992-2007
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Obsolete PCs in the U.S., 1997-2007
Year Units Shipped M Average Lifespan Share of PCs Lasting Share of PCs Lasting Share of PCs Lasting Number of Obsolete M
Year Units Shipped M Average Lifespan 4 years 3 years 2 years Number of Obsolete M
1997 31 3.4 40 60 0 18
1998 37 3.2 20 80 0 21
1999 43 3.1 10 90 0 24
2000 49 2.8 0 80 20 32
2001 50 2.6 0 60 40 42
2002 52 2.4 0 40 60 55
2003 53 2.2 0 20 80 63
2004 55 2.1 0 10 90 61
2005 56 2.0 0 0 100 63
2006 2.0 0 0 100 60
2007 2.0 0 0 100 61
Total 500
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Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments,Obsolescence
and Recycling 1997-2005
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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans
• Toxic material constituents

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Potentially Toxic Materials in PCs
Material Use/Location Health Effects
Lead Metal joining, radiation/CRT, PWB (printed wiring board) Damage to nervous and circulatory system, and kidneys serious adverse effects on brain development
Mercury Batteries, switches/housing, PWB Chronic brain, kidney, lung and fetal damage effects on brain function and memory a possible human carcinogen
Cadmium Battery, blue-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT Pulmonary damage, kidney disease, bone fragility likely human carcinogen
Arsenic Doping agent in transistors/PWB Allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, decreased red and white blood cell production
Beryllium Thermal conductivity, PWB, connectors Lung damage, allergic reactions, chronic beryllium disease likely human carcinogen
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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans
• Toxic material constituents

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans
• Toxic material constituents
• No cogent strategy for end-of-life management

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans
• Toxic material constituents
• No cogent strategy for end-of-life management

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Why is e-waste the 1 Recycling Problem?

• Proliferation of e-products
• Increasingly short life-spans
• Toxic material constituents
• No cogent strategy for end-of-life management
• Big Problem

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Response to the Problem

• Local governments mobilizing to prevent wholesale
  disposal of e-waste
• State governments beginning to regulate and
  mandate potential solutions
• Federal government proposing to declassify CRTs
  as hazardous waste
• OEMs and retailers implementing patchwork of
  programs to take back e-waste
• Stakeholders convening under National Electronics
  Product Stewardship Initiative
• Electronic recycling enterprises and donation
  centers ramping up

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Current Status of Electronics Recycling
Infrastructure

• Electronic recycling industry taking shape most
  operations are independent, small-scale, labor
  intensive and regional

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Distribution of Electronic Recyclers Sampled,
Percent of Total by Region
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Distribution of Recyclers Sampled, by Number of
Employees
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Current Status of Electronics Recycling
Infrastructure

• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking
  shape most operations are small-scale, labor
  intensive and regional

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Current Status of Electronics Recycling
Infrastructure

• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking
  shape most operations are small-scale, labor
  intensive and regional
• Generators access to recycling varies by size,
  quality of used product stream, ability to pay,
  and geography

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Recovery Options by Generator Type

• Generator
• Large Corporations/Organizations/Agencies
• Options
• Asset management/leasing opportunities with
  OEMs or equipment vendors
• Contracts with recyclers for material pick-up,
  processing and indemnification against future
  liability

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Recovery Options by Generator Type

• Generator
• Small Businesses/Organizations
• Options
• Limited asset management/leasing opportunity
• Limited municipal recovery
• Onus on generator to identify recycler and
  arrange for material pick-up/delivery

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Recovery Options by Generator Type

• Generator
• Residential
• Options
• Collection programs increasingly available
• Local reuse options
• Potential for product return to retailers
  and/or OEMs

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Key Unresolved Issues

• Who should bear/share program costs?
• How do we differentiate between legitimate and
  illegitimate recycling, particularly overseas?