E-Waste Workshop Offers Hope for Computer Salvage

by Terri Cronin

Where do computers go when they die? In our drive for better, faster, and smarter technology, Californians generate thousands of computers. Some researchers estimate that nationwide, 20.6 million personal computers became obsolete in the U.S. in 1998. On November 8, industry leaders, government agencies, recyclers, nonprofit organizations, environmental groups, and others gathered in Santa Clara to tackle the issue of electronic waste. Given the realities of surplus computers, the room was full of people and ideas.

The primary focus of the workshop was building California's electronic recycling infrastructure. As it develops, the infrastructure will support recovery, reuse, and recycling of electronic waste to avoid disposal. The ambitious agenda covered current barriers to recycling, plastics recycling, mapping current and future recycling facilities in the Bay Area, and the economics of it all.

The workshop participants came eager to work toward solutions to this unusual challenge. Apple, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Epson sent representatives. Local governments attended, including Sonoma County, Santa Clara, and San Jose. The California Integrated Waste Management Board and the Green Business Program of the Department of Toxic Substances Control joined resources staff from other states.

Cheryl Nelson with the United States Environmental Protection Agency participated via conference call, encouraging the group to work together to develop solutions. Heidi Hall with U.S. EPA Region IX explained how Region IX and X, encompassing the West Coast, are coordinating on electronic waste issues. Materials for the Future, a non-profit organization, coordinated the workshop; U.S. EPA and the California Integrated Waste Management Board co-sponsored it.

The workshop focused on barriers to computer recycling, especially the monitor's CRT (cathode ray tube). Cheryl Nelson of the U.S. EPA explained that in February 2001 the agency will release a proposed Universal Waste Rule for CRTs. Since CRTs are considered hazardous waste in California, the impact on CRT handling, recycling, and disposal is unclear. The subsequent discussion revealed the need for more clarity on the regulatory requirements in California and how they differ from U.S. EPA requirements.

As the group pointed out, many factors make the recovery, reuse, and recycling of electronics a challenge. Lead, composite plastics, precious metals, and other materials make up electronics. Lead, along with barium, is a hazardous material, requiring certain handling procedures and restricting computers from municipal landfills. Throw in some confusion over the California application of the U.S. EPA's Universal Waste Rule, and you can see why this workshop was both timely and well attended. 

Next, Scott Pencer of Micro Metallics discussed his company's computer recycling facility operated in partnership with Hewlett-Packard. Located in Roseville, California, this recycling facility processes more than two million pounds of materials each month. Micro Metallics recovers plastic, copper, steel, and other resources. The CRT glass is shipped to the Noranda Horne facility in Canada for smelting. Mr. Pencer estimates that 75 to 80 percent of the scrap CRT glass in North America is processed through the Noranda Horne facility. Micro Metallics also resells and de-manufactures computers, recovering functioning parts for reuse.

Mr. Hilary Gans, formerly with MBA Polymers and now with Asset Recovery Group, discussed the challenges of recycling plastics. The complexity of composite plastics, shipping costs, and limited facilities within California are a few of the barriers to increasing recycling. Residents of the Bay Area may remember the recent fire in late September at MBA Polymers in Richmond, a major setback to the recovery and recycling of plastic computer components. Mr. Gans noted that MBA Polymers was just transitioning from research and development to processing when the fire devastated the facility. Efforts are underway to rebuild.

Ted Smith, of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), raised another concern-the handling and final disposal of computer components shipped overseas. Stories have surfaced about questionable disposal practices, including open burning of materials. Some computer manufacturers choose not to export because of this uncertainty, which is one of many factors driving the demand for domestic alternatives to exporting. Mr. Smith called for more research on what becomes of electronic materials exported overseas.

The topic of plastics quickly escalated into a lively discussion incorporating the larger issue of infrastructure development and support. Currently, the American Plastics Council, in partnership with other organizations, is working to obtain more information about plastic computer components and the potential uses for recovered computer plastics. Bruce Payton with UC Santa Cruz noted the importance of voluntary recycling programs and encouraged more support of voluntary programs by government agencies.

Shirli Axelrod from King County, Washington, mentioned Seattle's current electronics exchange program. This partnership involves more than thirty organizations, including retailers of used computers. The city and county subsidize the collection of old or broken monitors, which are then sent to a glass-to-glass recycling facility. An environmental purchasing program is also underway for Seattle's business community. Ms. Axelrod noted that both infrastructure development and green procurement go hand-in-hand to address the problems of electronic waste. More information on Seattle's program is available at dnr.metrokc.gov

The participants repeatedly expressed a need for more coordination. June Andersen of IBM asked for a volunteer to take the lead to form a working group of state agencies in California. Mark Kennedy responded that the California Integrated Waste Management Board is coordinating a recently established working group which includes U.S. EPA, Cal/EPA, and the Department of Toxics Substances Control.

Currently, a mapping project is underway to identify Bay Area computer recycling facilities, charitable organizations, and nonprofits that promote reuse and recycling of electronics. Olga Meydbray of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition helped demonstrate the mapping project under development by Materials for the Future, SVTC, and the Bay Area Shared Information Consortium. Scheduled to be on line by the end of 2000, this Web site will allow businesses and consumers throughout the Bay Area to quickly locate reuse and recycling services. The mapping project shows existing facilities and helps identify gaps in the recycling infrastructure.

Representatives from San Francisco Community Computers and the Alameda County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC) stressed the need to increase awareness and support of computer reuse and refurbishing organizations that help extend the useful life of equipment.

Special thanks go to Professor Chad Raphael with Santa Clara University for facilitating the participants. The workshop provided an important opportunity to generate solutions and improve coordination between government agencies, industry, environmental groups, non-profits, and the recycling community.  Consensus among the participants was that partnerships between industry, local government, and the reuse and recycling sector are critical to addressing electronic waste issues. The next workshop will take place in January, 2001.

For More Information:

Sheila Davis
Materials for the Future
(415) 561-6530, x 18 
or visit:
www.materials4future.org

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Last updated: December 30, 2008