by Terri Cronin
Legislation Update
As reported in the last issue of CalMAX, two bills on electronic waste were vetoed in September 2002. In response to Governor Gray Davis's veto message, Cal/EPA conducted an Electronic Waste Forum on November 25, 2002. Panel members representing environmental organizations, electronics recyclers, local governments, and the electronics industry voiced their issues and concerns about e-waste. Senator Byron Sher,
author of SB 1523, participated in the forum along with electronics
industry representatives from Hewlett-Packard (HP), Sony, and the
Electronics Industry Association. HP announced their support for increased
manufacturer responsibility for computer recycling. The company's shift in
position was a surprise to many attending the forum.
One week after the forum, on the first day of the new legislative session, Senator Sher introduced SB 20. This bill is broader that the previous legislation, which focused on cathode ray tubes (CRT), a hazardous waste in California. The focus of SB 20 is "to ensure that funds are available to assist cities, counties, and recyclers of electronic wastes in developing programs to safely collect and recycle the hazardous materials contained in electronic wastes, and to promote the refurbishment and reuse of electronic equipment for use by schools and nonprofit agencies."
Companies Offering New Services to Manage Old Equipment
In the past two years, more than 20 states have introduced some type of legislation on e-waste. Based on impending legislation and customer demand, more companies are developing and expanding programs to take back old systems and provide ways for customers to recycle computers. One example is the Total Trade Monitor Replacement and Recycling Program offered by NEC-Mitsubishi. When a company upgrades to new NEC-Mitsubishi displays (CRTs or liquid crystal displays--LCDs, ), the NEC service provider installs the new monitor, removes the old monitor, and then arranges for shipping. The customer is charged a fee for nonworking monitors but may receive a credit for working monitors. Documentation is provided by NEC to show that all nonworking monitors were disposed of properly. If your organization is interested in this type of program, ask your supplier or equipment manufacturer what services they offer.
Guidelines Status
The Department of General Services (DGS) and the CIWMB are working together to develop electronic equipment guidelines for State agencies. The guidelines will provide State agencies with information and direction on the efficient procurement, use, and end-of-life management of electronic equipment. While intended for State agencies, the guidelines may be of use to other organizations interested in reducing costs and improving efficiency of their information technology assets.
A draft of the guidelines is
available on the Web. Comments have been submitted on the first draft and a second draft will be available for review early in 2003.
Electronics Updates Home
Last updated:
August 01, 2008
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