Overview of Electronic Device Recycling Issues & … 23, 2009 Anne Peters, Gracestone, Inc. With...
Transcript of Overview of Electronic Device Recycling Issues & … 23, 2009 Anne Peters, Gracestone, Inc. With...
July 23, 2009Anne Peters, Gracestone, Inc.
With help from Kristyn Rankin, Dell
Overview of Electronic Device Recycling Issues &
Solutionsfor the CO Electronic Device
Recycling Task Force
Topics Covered
• Nature & size of problem, CO data• History• How e-scrap is recycled• Costs• How other states have tackled this • Other important issues to track
What is electronic waste?
Obsolete, broken, unwanted, and used electronic equipment.
How many types of electronics are in your home?Your office?
Why is it a problem?• Computers double in speed and
capacity every 18 months• Millions tons of scrap electronics
discarded annually in the US• Electronics contain hazardous wastes
that can pollute the environment & create liability for some generators
• Costs to local governments
Size of the Problem
• How much electronics are used & discarded each year?
US ColoradoUnits/year becoming obsolete 400,000,000 6,500,000Units in storage 3,000,000 49,000Tons/year e-waste generated 235,000,000 3,800,000Source: EPA estimates
Estimated Number of CRTs in Colorado
-
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Monitors f rom CII
Monitors f romHouseholds
TVs from CII
TVs fromHouseholds
CDPHE 2004 Study by Gracestone
Electronics Actually Recycled• 7,700 – 8,500 Tons in 2006
Source: Gracestone, Inc. study for CDPHE HMWMD, 2004 & for CDPHE 1/08
Tons of Recycled Electronics in CO, 1999-2006
40 81 26
1,274
3,301
6081,254
8,100
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Fate of Obsolete CRTs in Colorado
-
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Recycled CRTsStored CRTsLandfilled CRTs
CDPHE 2004 Study by Gracestone
The environmental risk:Computer Component Hazardous Material
Monitor Pb in glass
Printed circuit boards Pb, Cr, Cd, Hg, As, Ag, CCl4
Batteries Lead, cadmium, mercury, lithium
Flat Panel displays Mercury
Plastics Brominated Flame Retardants (PBDE, PBB)
Older circuit boards (early 80s) PCBs
Pb Risk in Context: EPA Landfill estimates (‘95)
• Pb Acid storage batteries 64%• CRTs (TVs & monitors) 29%• Other electronics 1%• Glass & ceramics products 3%• Plastics 1%• Other products 1%
Potential Toxics in Landfill from CRTs(Preliminary Results)
-
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Tons
PhosphorChromiumBariumPlasticsLeadLeaded Glass
CDPHE 2004 Study by Gracestone
TCLP Test Data:Anything with a chip…
• Research: many electronic devices with printed circuit boards possess a reasonable likelihood of exhibiting the toxicity characteristic for lead (and other metals).
• Results indicate that CPUs are likely to be hazardous waste, too.
• Also – cell phones, VCRs, PDAs, iPods, TV remotes, smoke detectors, etc.
Townsend et. al. 2002, 2003
Toxic chemicals & your body:
source: Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition
• Mercury – damages brain, kidneys, fetus; travels easily in the food chain– PBT - persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic
• Cadmium – damages kidneys (PBT)• Chromium VI – damages DNA• Toners – carbon black - respiratory
problems; may be carcinogenic• BFRs – unknown impact; found in
human tissue worldwide
History of the Issue in CO• 1998-9: 1st e-waste collection event attempted in
Boulder County– but end-market issues came up – 1st study
• 2001: OEMC Task Force on electronics recycling• 2000: CO state legislature enacted legislation on
creating the CO CRT Recycling Pilot Project:– To educate business and residents– To help build the infrastructure for better recycling– Project of CDPHE’s HMWMD 2003-2005– Educated hundreds of stakeholders; website; pubs; report
• 2003: E-waste classified as Universal Waste by CO• 2000 to Present:
– Healthy growth of e-waste recycling industry– Many local gov’ts, businesses, nonprofits & manufacturers,
collect e-waste– 11/08: 60 Minutes expose of CO e-cycler
Residential Collection - Free Branded + Free with Purchase (Dell)ReConnect Partnership (Dell-Goodwill)Staples (Dell)
Waste Management (Sony +)SamsungMRM
Some Manufacturer Programs Currently Available in Colorado
Nat’l & Int’l History• 2002 - 05: European Union leadership
– WEEE & RoHS Directives 2005• 2002 - 04: NEPSI effort
– Effort toward a national solution failed• 2002: BAN & Greenpeace expose shocking practices in
China – problems continue in Africa & China to present• 2000’s: Big global economic growth in past decade
– Fueled demand for metals, plastics– Rise in prices for commodities spurred industry growth– Commodity market crash 10/08 hit e-scrap industry hard
• 2005: CA 1st law passed (ARF); 2006: Maine (PR)• Now 19 states + NYC have laws (all but CA are PR)• E-waste federal law 2009?
– Research $$– Export ban
Responsibility for e-waste
• Electronics are hazardous waste if sent for disposal – Households are exempt– E-waste is managed as Universal Waste
• It is illegal for business to dispose of hazardous waste in landfills
• If electronics are not disposed, they are not regulated as haz waste
• See CDPHE Compliance Bulletin
Working or non-working?
Put in trash:Regulated as hazardous waste. ILLEGAL
Pay for or be paid by recycler or broker to
take equipment to resell or refurbish.
Not regulated as hazardous waste.
Pieces and parts from refurbishing or repair are put in trash:
Regulated as hazardous waste.ILLEGAL
If working…
Donate for reuse
Not regulated as hazardous
waste.
If not working…
Donate to nonprofit for refurbishingNot regulated as hazardous waste.
Send for diagnosis and
repair.Not regulated as hazardous waste.
Is it waste or not? Unwanted electronics equipment owned by a business.
potential CERCLA liability
Costs to Manage E-WasteFor generators• $0 - $8 - >$25/unit for
residents when charged at d-o’s & events– Varies with type of
productFor processors• $.15 - .50/pound
– Varies with type of processing, etc.
State programs• $.30 -.50/pound• Varies depending on
– Targets vs. no targets– Environmental
standards for e-cyclers
How E-waste is ManagedFirst it is collected, then:
Source: Gracestone presentation, E-Scrap conference 2008
Equipment refurbished/resold for reuse as originally intended
(i.e., CPU remains a CPU)
Incineration for energy recovery
Equipment stays in the market with minimal additional resource consumption,
product life-cycle is extended
Waste Minimization Hierarchy Planetary Benefits
Components and parts refurbished/resold for reuse as
originally intended (i.e., CRT into a new TV)
Components stay in the market with some additional resource consumption, creates jobs in
de-manufacturing
Component materials salvaged as scrap metal,
plastics, glass
Raw materials stay in the market with additional
resource consumption, but prevent re-mining of virgin
metals and thereby conserves natural resources
No materials remain in the market but the BTU value of
the material is converted into energy
Landfill disposal None
Recyclable PlasticsCarcass
Fan shroudKeyboard
Front Bezel and chassisBattery case
Ink and Toner Cartridges
Recyclable Scrap MetalHard Drive
Metal platesScrews
Housing and framesPower supply units
Recoverable Precious MetalPrinted Circuit Boards
WiresBattery cores
Recyclable GlassDisplaysTypically Disposed of
Unrecyclable battery cores (typically incinerated)Residual ink and toner remaining in cartridges (typically incinerated)
Plastics UsesPlastic pellets used as feedstock for
molded plastics manufacturing
Ferrous Scrap Metal UsesTypically blended with virgin
metals and formed into steel parts (e.g., construction steel)
Aluminum Scrap UsesReformed into new aluminum
parts (e.g., auto parts)
Precious Metals UsesSmelted to recover copper, gold,
palladium, platinum, silver, cadmium, etc. which are returned to the market
as commodities
Glass UsesCullet glass is typically cleansed of
metals and used as feedstock for glass manufacturing
Cardboard and PaperPackaging Manuals
Cardboard and Paper UsesReused as packing and reprocessed
into new paper and cardboard
Primary Recoverable Materials Materials Uses
Company AIncoming Material
~ 8 mil lbs.__ employees
Accepts all consumer electronics
As of 4/2/08 was 80% recycle-20% recycle. As of
8/25/08 now is about 50%-50%.
REUSE, REFURB & RESALE: No resale of CRTs. Will resell working LCDs. Test W/NW – all parts and components. Only sell P4 & G5. Their downstream includes vendors buying non-working units which those companies refurbish.
RECYCLE: Non-working units and parts to recycle.
Monitors and TVs
CRT tubes
De-manSystems
Hig
h-gr
ade
Boa
rds
Low
-gra
de
Boa
rds
For smaller CRTs: Face & funnel separated with hot wire into shadow mask,
funnel, panel glass streams.
To China through Company C
XYZ Refining
CA
Mercury processor A
Arizona
All
Batte
ries
Plas
tics
Wire
s &
cabl
es
Company Amapping its process & downstream
As of 8/27/08Keep suppliers confidential from one another
Collection Events
Corporate Customers
Lapt
ops
& co
mpu
ters
LCD
D
isas
sem
bly
Mon
iitor
D
isas
sem
bly
Baler
Hg
Lam
ps
Battery Co 2California
Local Metal Co
California
BIG CO. RefiningCanada
Get documentation of transactions
Battery Co 1California
Battery Co 3California
Three tiers here is not ideal.
CRT recycler in OH
For larger CRTs (mostly TVs): Casing removed &
whole tube shipped
Recycler C in Mexico
Laptops
Work-Not work?
Working, >P3 goes to Resale
Co. B
Not working – goes to vendors who do parts salvage like Recycle Co. A
Various components –circuit boards, drives, etc.
Work-Not work?
Working, sold through
various online
sources
Smaller units of various,
Not Working
Shred Boards
Manual disassembly
of non-working
equipment
Batteries
RBRC, & 2 other battery co.
India
Malaysia?
© Gracestone, Inc.
E-Cycling Business Models & Material Flow
Company G Incoming Material
~ 1.5 mil lbs.12 employees
Accepts all electronics
90% to reuse, 10% recycle
Test whole units
RECYCLE: Non-working units and parts to recycle.
Monitors and TVs
CRT tubes
HD Destruction, Manual De-
manSystems
Saving them, will send to OECD
smelterOnly expect to ship
1x/year
Haz Mat co that processes
this stuffAsset Recovery-focused company G
mapping its process & downstream 7/11/08
Corporate __% No residential
No outlet
Leftover components &
parts
Local Metals Co
Laptops & CPUs are repaired, refurbished.
Contract mfgrs material ?%
“destruction”
Working units: Sold
Non-Working: Storing CRTs
for shipment to OH CRT glass
processor
Work/Not Work?
Not Working? Broken into parts
Overseas
Sales of new components from contract
mfgrs.
Not tested
Sold on BrokerForum.com
If not sold in 60 days, sent to
recycle
Facility in State 1
Opening one in State 2
90% are Working -sold on web (Ebay)
or at local shops, 1-2 at a time
Work/Not Work?
© Gracestone, Inc.
E-Cycling Business Models & Material Flow
Company AIncoming Material
xx TPY # of employees
Accepts all consumer electronics
About 20% for resale, 80% to
recycle
RESALE: Monitors > 5 yrs failed. < P3 failed.
Test monitor for W/NW. PCs – test, wipe HD,
make workable machine. Anything sold to overseas brokers?
RECYCLE: Non-working units and parts
to recycle
Monitors and TVs
All recycle equipment to either Co 1
or Co. 2
Company 1(received xx lbs. in ’07 from Company
A)
Company 2(received xx lbs. in
’07
De-manSystems
Band on outer edge of tube removed. Andela
crusher sorts sheet metal, glass
To China through Company D. Looking
for US processor
Sell to Company Y
Sell to Company X
Hi & lo-grade board blend to smelter E in
Asia
Low grade boards to smelter F in Canada
Low grade boards shred & ship to Company C or
Company G - smelters
Sample SchematicCompany A’s downstream
Provide detail on
downstream activities
© Gracestone, Inc.
E-Cycling Business Models & Material Flow
Policy ParadigmsWho should pay for electronics recycling?
Two dominant models1. Producer Responsibility (or, Extended
Producer (EPR), Product Stewardship, or Shared Responsibility)– All involved in product life cycle shares
responsibility for health & enviro impacts from production, use, & EOL management
– Brand owner should pay for collection andrecycling (“cost internalization”)
– Will lead to increased design for recycling, reduced toxicity lower recycle costs
– Little or no involvement from government– Generally, no out-of-pocket costs to consumers
• Most popular legislative model now
2. Advanced Recovery Fee• Point-of-sale fee collected and run by gov’t or
mfgr-managed 3rd party org.– California, Alberta
• 3rd party org. or gov’t pays collectors and recyclers
• No charge to consumer at end of life• Based on principle of shared responsibility
– sharing costs along the value chain– customer sees the fee paid for “recycling” service
• Not being introduced any more
Policy ParadigmsWho should pay for electronics recycling?
Thoughts on Various Methods of Financing
•• Visible fees (ARF)Visible fees (ARF)–– Consumer educationConsumer education–– Engage others along product chain Engage others along product chain –– Little incentive for designLittle incentive for design--forfor--environmentenvironment
•• NonNon--visible fees (PR visible fees (PR –– state usually state usually involved)involved)–– Facilitate compliance Facilitate compliance –– Flexibility to manage through sales chain Flexibility to manage through sales chain
•• Cost internalization (PR only)Cost internalization (PR only)–– Strongest signals for DFEStrongest signals for DFE–– Significant flexibilitySignificant flexibility
Individual vs. Collective Systems
•• Individual responsibilityIndividual responsibility–– Supports DFE objectivesSupports DFE objectives–– Linkage to brand Linkage to brand –– Supports marketSupports market--driven system driven system –– Administratively more complexAdministratively more complex–– Requires more attention to performance goals Requires more attention to performance goals –– Concern with duplicative infrastructure Concern with duplicative infrastructure
•• Collective responsibilityCollective responsibility–– Addresses historic and orphan wasteAddresses historic and orphan waste–– Ease of compliance Ease of compliance –– Lack of DFE incentiveLack of DFE incentive–– Subject to competition/monopoly Subject to competition/monopoly
19 States have passed E-Waste Recycling Laws
(plus New York City)
AK
MT
WYID
WA
OR
NVUT
CA
AZ
ND
SD
NE
CO
NM
TX
OK
KS
AR
LA
MO
IA
MNWI
IL IN
KY
TN
MS AL GA
FL
SC
NC
VAWV
OH
MINY
PA
MDDENJ
CT RI
MA
MEVT
NH
HI
Producer responsibility law passed
18 states plus New York City
ARF (Consumer fee) laws passed.
1 State
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition
13 More states are trying to pass e-waste laws:States with e-waste recycling laws plus bills introduced in 2009
AK
MT
WYID
WA
OR
NVUT
CA
AZ
ND
SD
NE
CO
NM
TX
OK
KS
AR
LA
MO
IA
MNWI
IL IN
KY
TN
MS AL GA
FL
SC
NC
VAWV
OH
MINY
PA
MDDENJ
CT RI
MA
MEVT
NH
HIProducer responsibility law passed
18 states plus New York City
ARF (Consumer fee) laws passed.
1 State
E-waste bill introduced in 2009
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition (June, 2009)
Producer Responsibility Laws: Differences in Important Details
• Scope of products covered• Filing and approval of plans, registration fees for mfgrs.• Recycling standards• Who is covered
– Just consumers? Small local gov’ts? School districts? Very small businesses?
• Use of goals or “drivers” – Incentives for participation to drive high collection volumes and
prevent illegal dumping or other problems• Role of state government• Requirement for ESM e-cycling or not• Design for environment requirements
– Toxic material restrictions• Green electronic purchasing requirements for state
Producer Responsibility State Laws
How do different producer responsibility laws drive high collection volumes (or not)?
No collection drivers.Manufacturers decide what they want to do.
Partial collection drivers Bills with strong drivers for high collection
Several bills: Companies must simply have a program. No specific requirements.
Local Governments Manage Collection Producers pay for recycling, but not always for collection.
Return Share BillsCompanies are assigned a “return share” based on the portion of their products coming back in all collection activities.
Bill motivates collection of e-waste in various ways with some kind of performance measures or convenience metrics.
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition
States passing laws with “Drivers” for high recycling volumes (in light green)
AK
MT
WYID
WA
OR
NVUT
CA
AZ
ND
SD
NE
CO
NM
TX
OK
KS
AR
LA
MO
IA
MNWI
IL IN
KY
TN
MS AL GA
FL
SC
NC
VAWV
OH
MINY
PA
MDDENJ
CT RI
MA
MEVT
NH
HILaws with strong collection drivers
5 states
Producer responsibility law passed
13 states plus New York City
ARF (Consumer fee) laws passed.
1 State
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition
Ways to Drive More CollectionThree ways states are driving increased recycling:• Convenience: Mandate how convenient collection must be (Site
in every county, plus one site in each city for 10,000 or more)– Washington (started in January 2009)– Oregon (started in January 2009)
• Market Share Goals: Mandate collection goals tied to what companies sell in the state– Minnesota (started in Aug 2007)– Indiana (starts April 2010)
• Escalator: Set initial goal, then mandate escalator from year to year– Illinois (starts Jan 2010)
Possible Partial Collection Drivers
States where local government manages collection
• Maine (started in 2006)• Connecticut (starts July)• North Carolina (starts 2010) - Collection also done by
retailers, non-profits
States with Return Share bills (and no other drivers)• New Jersey (starts 2011)
• Rhode Island (started Feb 2009) – has some market share requirement for TVs.
E-Waste Collection Volumes Under State-Mandated Recycling Programs
Monitors TVs Computers Laptops
TOTAL COLLECTED in
PoundsNotes Population
Collection rate per capita
California(Includes
products from business)
Year 1 2005 not covered 64,809,498 36,457,549 1.78
Year 2 2006 not covered 127,979,144 3.51
Year 3 2007 not covered 185,190,929 5.08
Year 4 2008 not covered 215,500,079 2008 data incomplete
5.91
Maine Year 1 2006 1,205,726 2,954,848 not covered Laptops numbers
under monitors
4,160,574 1,321,574 3.15
Year 2 2007 1,393,775 3,290,682 not covered 4,688,552 3.55
Year 3 2008 1,421,284 3,853,020 not covered 5,274,304 3.99
Minnesota Year 1 2007 -2008
No breakdown. MN program also collects printers,keyboards; fax machines; and DVD players
33,100,000 5,197,621 6.37
Washington Year 1 Q1
2009 Jan- Apr
4,176,758 6,729,154 1,234,126 Under computers
12,140,038 Data from Jan-Apr only
6,468,424 5.63
% 33.0% 57.1% 9.9% 35,663,680 Annualized
Oregon Year 1Q1
2009 Q1 1,644,534 2,750,767 543,240 Under computers
4,938,541 Data from Q1 only
3,747,455 5.27
% 33.3% 55.7% 11.0% 19,754,164 Annualized lbs per person
Collection Results from State Programs
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition
California* Maine Minnesota Washington Oregon
Year 1 1.78 3.15 6.37 5.68 5.27
Year 2 3.51 3.55
Year 3 5.08 3.99
Year 4 5.91
Pounds Per Person Collected in State Programs
* CA program includes e-waste from businesses
Source: Electronics TakeBack Coalition
OregonHB2626 (June ’07)
• Free – covers computers, monitors, and TVs– Free recycling of CEDs to anyone bringing 7 or less
items to a participating collection site at one time. – Collection sites may accept > 7 items from
households, small businesses and small 501(c)(3) nonprofits with 10 or fewer employees.
– Residents can choose to take their electronics to an Oregon E-Cycles site for recycling, or to another site, or dispose of unwanted electronics
• LF disposal ban on PCs & TVs 1/1/10
OR - Manufacturers• Must label CEDs with visible, permanently affixed brand,
& register brands with DEQ. • Must pay a registration fee
– Covers DEQ’s admin. costs to implement Oregon E-Cycles.• Must participate in a recycling pgm.
– Either pay a recycling fee to participate in DEQ-administered State Contractor Pgm or,
– If are big, can implement & pay for own statewide program– Either way, they are paying to cover costs including collection,
transportation, & recycling of collected devices & mgmt. of their program.
• If fail to comply with req’ts can’t sell products in or into Oregon. – Law provides DEQ with authority to enforce these req’ts.
• May choose to provide add’l “premium services”– Could include mail back or pick-up services. – Can charge a fee.
• Fees set in statute
OR - Manufacturers• OEMs register by 1/1 yearly; reporting req’ts.
Details:– Pay annual registration fee of $15-40,000, (linked to prior
yr. sales) – $$ to state’s “Covered Electronic Devices Account”– Meet return share goals or pay fee– By 1/1/10, OEMs submit a plan to state. Plan details
include:• Program finance & management• Collect, transport & recycle of all CEDs• Advertising, promotion, education statewide (and on a regular
basis)
• Must establish at least 1 staffed collection site for cities > 10,000
OR - Retailers• Must provide customers buying new CEDs w/ printed
info. about Oregon E-Cycles at point of sale.• Must only sell brands listed on DEQ’s manufacturer
compliance list as “pending” or “compliant” andproducts are affixed with a permanent and visible brand label.
• If brand is not listed, it may not be sold in or into OR. Sales restrictions apply only to brands of CEDs, not to other electronics/products a manufacturer may make. – Applies to all sales methods (retail, catalog, phone & web) – Sale or reused or refurbished products exempt from requirements.
• DEQ - ensures that retailers are providing POS info. to customers & only selling registered brands.– The law provides DEQ with authority to enforce.
OR - Recyclers• Recyclers who are contracted with mfgr. plans as
part of OR E-Cycles must meet DEQ EMPs• Contracted recyclers - reimbursed by pgm they
contract with • Those not contracted perceive unfairness b/c:
– Mfgrs. not req’d to select everyone to be in pgm, &– Feel given a choice between free or paid recycling,
customers will choose free. • However, because OR E-Cycles doesn’t provide free
recycling to large businesses, schools or other entities other than those clearly defined (households, small biz, NPs), there’s still material to be recycled & they may charge for CEDs & other products not covered under law.
OR – Dept. Enviro Quality• Oversees program including:
– Compliance and enforcement – Establishes fees to be paid by manufacturers– Education and outreach– Oversees the state contractor program– Establishes EMPs
• Majority of administrative costs are covered through the manufacturer registration fees – “(at least this is my understanding of how it is
supposed to work).” - Jan Whitworth, OR DEQ
Washington(March ‘06)
• Manufacturers provide free recycling services at no charge to owner
• TVs, monitors, desktops, laptops • Started 1/1/09• Covers HHs, charities, schools & sch. districts, small biz
(<50 employees), small govt. (special purpose districts, city govt. w/ < 50,000 pop., county govt. w/ < 125,000 pop.)
• Regulations – Set through “a very public process which solicits input from all
affected parties”– Very comprehensive, detail roles of all parties
• Manufacturers, retailers, collectors, transporters, processors and recycling plan authorized parties
– Specify: • what must be in recycling plan• how recycling plan is to be implemented• performance standards for all parties• enforcement for non-compliance
WA - Manufacturers• Must:
– Pay annual fees & register with state– Participate in a recycling plan – Provide 1 collection point per city of > 10,000 & at
least 1 per county– Collectively must pay for the collection,
transportation and recycling of covered products• Cost to mfgr. varies depending on
market share & return share• Regs detail requirements• Benefits for working with non-profits
WA - Retailers• Must:
– Provide consumers with info about where to recycle unwanted electronics.
– Sell only branded products from manufacturers who are registered with State
WA - Recylers• Must:
– Meet performance standards set by rule– Conduct an annual independent audit (may
cost up to $10,000)
WA – Dept. of Ecology• Must:
– Provide oversight for all parties– Work with many entities to educate the public
about the program– $225,000/yr for program oversight
• paid to Ecology by manufacturers• “We are underfunded.” (Miles Kuntz, DOE 5/15/09)
• Note WA population 6.5 mil (CO is 4.9 mil.)• What you'd do differently?
– Include keyboards and mice in the definition of a “computer.”
What, There’s More?!?
Further Issues to Be Aware Of . . .Export Issues
Certification of e-cyclersPrison labor issues
Green purchasing of electronics
Why is this a problem?• Basel Convention, int’l treaty, 1989
– To prevent export & dumping of hazardous waste in developing countries by developed countries
– USA is only developed country not to sign, therefore:• It is illegal for 140 countries (who have signed) to accept hazardous
wastes (as defined internationally) from US• No enforcement by US of export to developing countries• Drives prices of e-cycling down• Makes it hard for ethical businesses to compete
• Is that how we want CO e-waste to be managed?– Can’t ban export in state-level law, however
• Federal CRT Rule – Notification by e-cycler of export of CRT glass– EPA asks importing countries for permission to import– Loopholes for “reuse”– Not harmonized with international laws
E-Cycler Certification Programs• GRADE certification from IDC
– Strong on data security & business reporting• ISRI’s RIOS + EPA’s R2 (Responsible Recycling)
– Covers EHS, worker safety, etc.– Allows …
• Export for “recycling” or “reuse” • Use of prison labor• Shredding of mercury-containing devices
• E-Stewards Certification– Independent, accredited, 3rd-party audited program– Addresses..
• Worker safety Data security• No landfills, incinerators/prisons/export of toxics• Downstream accountability Reuse defined• Follows international law
Prison Labor• Unicor, Federal prison labor program,
competes for e-cycling services• Controversy over:
– Competition with businesses complying with US laws who thus have ‘normal’ overhead & create legitimate jobs
– Prison workers not protected under OSHA– Questions re worker safety protections for
workers & guards• Evidence of exposure to Pb, Hg, etc. in workers &
guards
Green Purchasing of Electronics
• Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool– Purchasing tool that ranks
computers gold, silver, bronze
– Many green criteria (energy, recycle, EHS, etc.)
• Addressed in some state bills, requiring state to purchase at least EPEAT bronze
Anne PetersGracestone, Inc.
Boulder, CO
303.494.4934 voice303.494.4880 fax
For more information: