Electronics Update

by Terri Cronin

New Electronic Hazardous Waste Regulations Approved

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control approved final regulations for Electronic Hazardous Waste on February 3, 2003. The regulations are available at the DTSC Web site: www.dtsc.ca.gov/LawsRegulationsPolicies/.

The new regulations require generators to improve the handling and storage of waste cathode ray tubes (CRT) to prevent the release of lead contained in the CRT units. The regulations are intended to encourage and facilitate recycling of electronic equipment. The regulations should be reviewed in depth by any business involved in managing, reusing, or recycling electronic equipment.

The 44 pages of regulations introduce a new category, "Consumer Electronic Devices" (CED) which includes computers, computer peripherals, telephones, answering machines, and cell phones. The regulations apply to these CEDs when they are discarded and when the device "exhibits the characteristic of toxicity." The regulations also state that "an unused consumer electronic device becomes a waste on the date the handler decides to discard it (66273.3 [C][2])." That means it is up to you, as the "handler" of a consumer electronic device, to decide when it becomes waste. So goes the saying "one man’s trash is another man's treasure."

New Programs from E-Waste Recyclers and Manufacturers

In the constantly evolving world of e-waste, manufacturers and recyclers continue to expand programs and create new twists on old services. Epson announced a new program for customers, offering a discount on new purchases when they bring in an old Epson product for recycling. The fee for this service is $10 per item, which includes shipping and recycling costs. Participating customers receive a $5 coupon per item returned, good on a purchase at the Epson store. For more information, visit:
www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Recycle/RecycleProgram.jsp .

Recycle America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., announced an environmental stewardship pledge for delivery of its eCyclingSM services. The stewardship pledge is being launched in conjunction with a new "domestic only processing" service option for all of its customers. "We are excited to take an environmental leadership role in the electronics recycling industry in the United States," stated Kevin McCarthy, Director of Electronics Recycling for Recycle America. "We are committed to developing and promoting domestic processing infrastructure which creates local jobs and other economic benefits."

Recycle America will be utilizing the services of Carrollton, Texas-based Resource Concepts, Inc., and San Jose, California-based Micro Metallics Corporation for domestic shredding services for select electronic streams. These streams may also be processed at Recycle America-owned and operated facilities.

Recycler's Pledge—Fifteen private electronics recycling firms representing 21 facilities throughout North America announced recently that they have joined forces with environmental organizations and agreed to uphold environmental and social criteria for the dismantling and recycling of electronic wastes. The criteria are contained in the "Electronic Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship" that was developed in conjunction with members of the Computer TakeBack Campaign. This campaign includes the Basel Action Network and the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

For more information and a list of participating recyclers, visit the SVTC Web site at www.svtc.org.

Guidelines—Update

The CIWMB and the Department of General Services are developing guidelines for State agencies on the procurement, use, and end-of-life management of electronic equipment. The final revisions of the Electronic Equipment Guidelines are underway and a training session is scheduled for May 13 at the Government Technology Conference (GTC) in Sacramento. The Electronic Equipment Guidelines are an informational tool to help State agencies make more efficient choices related to electronic equipment. For more information on the guidelines, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics.

For more information and online registration, visit the GTC Web site, www.govtech.net/events/ .
State agencies are the primary audience; however, other government agencies and organizations may be interested in the guidelines.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008