New Developments on E-Waste 

This past March the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reaffirmed that equipment containing cathode ray tubes (CRT), such as televisions and computer monitors, cannot be disposed of in landfills. The typical CRT contains approximately five pounds of lead. As a result they are subject to California's hazardous waste regulations. Much discussion has ensued between regulators, communities, recyclers, and computer manufactures and retailers. Increasing reuse and recycling opportunities is critical to properly managing CRTs and other electronic equipment. For more information, visit DTSC's Web site at www.dtsc.ca.gov.

Held in mid-April in Arlington, Virginia, the first National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative Dialogue drew local and state governments from across the nation together with manufacturers and environmental organizations. The goal of this initiative is to coordinate voluntary end-of-life management efforts and encourage manufacturers, government agencies, and environmental groups to work together to reduce electronic waste. The discussion was held in conjunction with the Electronic Product Recovery and Recycling Conference (EPR2).

The focus of EPR2 is to bring together a diverse group to promote environmentally and economically responsible management of electronics products throughout their life cycle. CIWMB Board Member Michael Paparian attended the EPR2 Conference and participated in the discussion. Others participating from California included representatives from Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Sony Headquarters in San Diego, Materials for the Future Foundation, Micro Metallics, Waste Management, Inc., and California's Department of Toxic Substances Control.

On May 21, 2001, Hewlett-Packard Company announced a service that allows consumers and businesses to conveniently recycle unwanted computers and equipment from any manufacturer. Accessed via the Web at www.hp.com/go/recycle, the service created by HP includes pickup, transportation, evaluation for reuse or donation, and environmentally sound recycling for products ranging from PCs and printers to servers and scanners. The cost for the service depends on the type of equipment and covers shipping and recycling costs. HP will be working in partnership with Micro Metallics to manage the equipment received that will be refurbished, disassembled for parts, or recycled.

For California, the extent of this challenge of managing electronic is still unclear. How much "old" electronic equipment is out there and what options exist? A project is underway by the CIWMB to study the amount and types of electronic equipment waste generated by private citizens in California. The project will also examine the current condition of the statewide infrastructure for recovery, reuse, recycling, and disposal of certain types of electronic equipment. The information collected will help communities, businesses, and State and local government agencies effectively manage the rapidly growing electronic waste stream. Look for more information in future CalMAX issues.

In coordination with the CIWMB, the Department of General Services is developing guidelines for State agencies on procurement and end-of-life management of electronics. The guidelines will help state agencies improve efficiency of their electronic equipment, increase reuse and recycling, and reduce the amount of electronic equipment disposed by state agencies.

CalMAX continues to facilitate the reuse of electronics, with both "wanted" and "available" listings featuring electronic equipment. The success of one CalMAX participant, Puyam Corporation, is featured in the "Successful Connection" article A Successful Connection for the Whole Community: CalMAX Connections, Summer 2001. To find out even more about electronics, visit the Board's Electronics Web site. This site provides a variety of information on managing electronics, including a list of reuse and recycling organizations and upcoming collection events. If your organization has unwanted electronic equipment, consider an "available" listing in CalMAX or contact one of the organizations listed on the Electronics site.

Take a few minutes to visit the site and learn about ways to reduce electronic waste.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008