Electronics Recycling: Summary of National and State Initiatives

Clare LindsayUSEPAlindsay.clare@epa.gov

MWMA Fall Summit October 22, 2003

Overview

1. National Initiativesa) National Electronics Product Stewardship Dialogueb) Green Designc) Green Purchasingd) Increasing Recyclinge) Ensuring Safe Recycling

2. State Initiativesa) California’s New Lawb) Other State Actions

Electronics Waste: The Problem

3 billion consumer electronics will be scrapped in next 10 yrs* 400 million annually* includes 200 million TVs (IAER)

1 billion computer units will become obsolete from now to 2010

Changing waste stream: * CRTs to flat panels* new products (Palms, laptops, combined phone/PDA)

Environmental issues throughout life cycle:* toxics used in manufacture* energy consumption in use (e.g., Energy Star)* who pays to collect, transport, process discards* how to make sure recycling is safe* how to encourage reuse of used materials

NEPSI DialogueNational Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI)

• Goal: Develop a national financing system, shared by manufacturers, retailers, government and consumers, to recover and recycle used PCs and TVs.

• Approach: Multi-stakeholder dialogue aimed at identifying a financing system that the parties can support and the steps that would be required (including necessary infrastructure, institutions) to implement the system. In late June meeting, agreed to concentrate on developing the following option:• Visible fee paid by consumer at purchase; fee sunsets in future, to be

replaced by system, perhaps without any fee or a lower fee, where industry and government share costs. The group is looking into options for companies that would prefer not to have a visible fee on their products.

• Partners: Over 15 manufacturers and 15 states involved. 18 others, including recyclers, retailers, NGOs, academics.

• Timing: Final meeting scheduled for 12/03. Hoping for agreement in early 2004.

• Web Site: www.nepsi.org

Green DesignSustainable Electronics Design Challenge Project

1. Goal: Motivate electronics designers and manufacturers to fundamentally re-think electronics design and to create sustainable products for the long term.

2. Approach: EPA is funding a highly regarded design firm to hold a competition among product designers to develop sustainable electronic products and systems. Focus on redesigning the products of the future. Design criteria will address life cycle impacts of electronics and will promote development of sustainable end of life systems. Issue challenge to designers and industry players to meet criteria in visionary future products. Use judging panel to identify winning submissions.

3. Partners: grantee, manufacturers, designers, public and private stakeholders

4. Timing: Design Challenge launched by November 2003. Select winners in Summer of 2004.

Green PurchasingElectronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool

(EPEAT)• Goal: To develop rating system for procurement officials to

distinguish “greener” products and drive greater demand for same.

• Approach: Focus here is on products available today and in near future. Goal is to develop an easy to use, multi-attribute rating system that recognizes outstanding electronics design for end-of-life management. Rating system will be designed for use by public purchasers. Will pilot use of the rating system with public purchasers and feed results into Federal Electronics Challenge.

• Partners: EPA HQ, Region 10, grantee, and public/private stakeholders.

• Timing: Had kick-off meeting in June; soliciting stakeholder involvement; next meeting on Nov. 4-5, Fairfax, VA.

• Web Site: www.epeat.net

Federal Electronics ChallengeMaking the Federal Government a model for electronics

asset management:

• Goal: To educate and motivate Federal agencies to be better stewards of their electronic assets, through smarter procurement and better management of used electronics.

• Approach: Federal facilities to work with stakeholders to change their electronics purchasing and management practices through peer exchanges, development and dissemination of best practices, technical assistance and national awards for offices that set the leadership standard .

• Partners: EPA, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, DOD, Federal Network for Sustainability.

• Timing: Pilots to commence in 2003. To be rolled out as a national program in 2004.

• Web Site: www.federalelectronicschallenge.net

Outreach/Education“Plug-In to eCycling”: National Electronics Recycling

Outreach Campaign

• Goal: Increase the number of used electronics that are safely collected and recycled nationwide by educating consumers and motivating them to use any available opportunities to recycle.

• Approach: Consumer awareness launched earlier in 2003. Engaging numerous manufacturers, retailers and governments to cooperate on take back events.

• Partners: ATT Wireless, Best Buy, Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, Dell, H-P, Recycle America, NXTCycle, Envirocycle. Currently lining up more states, locals and nonprofits.

• Communities Invited to Join: Incentives include matching with national co-sponsors, outreach tools, collection tips, recognition from EPA.

• Timing: Campaign launched in January 2003. Recognition event at Consumer Electronics Show in January 2004.

• Web Site: www.plugintoecycling.org

Increasing Recycling Opportunities

Modeling Shared Responsibility: Plug-In to eCycling Pilots

• Goal: To demonstrate potential for voluntary, shared financial responsibility partnerships, demonstrate economies of scale and creative new approaches to collecting and paying for e-waste recycling.

• Approach: EPA asking industry, retailers, recyclers and government to share financial and/or physical responsibility for managing e-waste in three regions in the US. A series of stakeholder meetings held in late June to discuss specific partner roles in the pilots and to identify creative strategies to lower costs and increase recovery. Looking to launch pilots this winter/spring, and hold summit to review result in Fall of 2004.

• Partners: EPA HQ, EPA Region 3 and Region 3 states, Minnesota, Seattle and Portland. Project teams are soliciting industry, retailer, recyclers and other partners to assist financially in these pilots.

• Web Site: www.plugintorecycing.org

Ensuring Safe Recycling• Goal: As part of Plug-In, EPA developing draft national

guidelines for environmentally sound e-waste recycling.

• Approach: Will test draft criteria as part of the Plug-In project by calling on partners to adhere to these guidelines: 1) participating munis, retailers and manufacturers to hire recyclers that meet the guidelines; 2) participating recyclers certify that they meet the guidelines.

• Contents of Guidelines: 1) proof of reuse or recycling (rather than disposal); 2) facilities doing the recycling should practice environmentally sound management (e.g., licensed, risk management objectives or certified environmental management system (EMS) in place; personnel training, emergency and release response measures in place; insurance and auditing; recordkeeping; closure plans.

• Plan for Finalizing Guidelines: Guidelines will be tested as part of the pilot to see whether they are workable and complete.

State Initiatives: California Legislation

• First state to enact a mandatory financing system for recycling

• Consumer fee at point of purchase: fees range from $6-$10 on display devices

• Retailers collect fee and forward to state fund for management

• Fees used to help pay for collection and processing

• Imports EU toxics bans; can’t sell products in CA without meeting EU requirements

• Constrains exports; prohibits prison labor

State Initiatives: Action in Other States

• CRTs banned from disposal in Maine, Minnesota, Virginia (already banned in CA and MA)

• Re financing: 53 measures introduced, 29 states

• Diverse approaches, ranging from full producer responsibility to point of purchase fees, to advisory committees

• MA, MN, WI and WA could act within the next year

Electronics: Where we should be in 5 years

IN FIVE YEARS . . .

1. Manufacturers are designing and making electronics that are easier to reuse and recycle and contain fewer hazardous constituents.

2. Consumers and businesses know which electronic products are more environmentally

sustainable and are buying them.

3. Consumers and businesses are returning their used electronics for reuse and recycling through convenient and low cost outlets.

4. Reuse and recycling of used electronics is environmentally safe and markets for these materials are robust.