Consumers today are becoming aware of the potential short and long term implications of improper electronics disposal. Electronics discards contain hazardous items (CRT's, circuit boards, PCB capacitors, etc.) that can be recycled, eliminating environmental liability.
Electronic equipment can be classified as "Used Electronics for Recovery" if processed by a licensed electronic equipment recycler. When destined for recycling, discarded electronics are not "waste" and therefore not subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulation. Thus, the "generator" benefits from the substantial difference in handling requirements and costs to manage these waste products. Electronic equipment is subject to all the rules and regulations including hazardous waste requirements under RCRA if not recycled.

Electronics Recovery Provides for:

Accountability for all hazardous materials contained in discarded equipment
A reduction in environmental liability
Increased protection for your community from environmental contamination
Potential asset recovery

Reputation Counts!

It is important to choose a reputable contractor to recover your electronics discards in an environmentally sound manner and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. If the company you contract with contaminates the environment, you may be held responsible. Moreover, the company you chose to handle your electronics discards must also assure the security you need for any information contained in the units or any proprietary equipment.

Many electronics recycling companies will recover a few of the more valuable components from electronics, and then ship the remaining discards to China or other developing nations. The Federal Government Export Restriction Notice applies to the exporting of electronics. Additionally, China and other nations are increasingly banning the importation of electronics because of the mounting hazardous waste problems such imports create. Companies choosing this option will potentially face their own traveling "garbage barge" as electronic equipment is rejected and returned to the United States for disposal, or worse, end up improperly disposed of and an environmental liability.

When properly done, de-manufacturing and recovery removes long-term liability, while remarketing of components and recovered materials lowers your disposal costs. Recovered components and recycling of materials for use as a feed stock in manufacturing new products allows for the environmentally sound handling of used electronics.

[1]Export Restriction Notice - The use, disposition, export and re-export of this property are subject to all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended: the Arms Export Control Act, (22 USC 2751 et seq.); the Export Administration Act of 1979 (560 USC Append 2401 et. Seq.); Assistance to Foreign Atomic Energy Activities (10 CFR 810);
Export and Import of Nuclear Equipment and Material (10 CFR 110); International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22CFR 120 et seq.); Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 730 et seq.); Foreign Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR 500 et seq.); and the Espionage Act (37 USC 791 et seq.) which among other things, prohibit: (a) The making of false statements and concealment of any material, information regarding the use or disposition, export or re-export of the property; and (b) Any use of disposition export or re-export of the property which is not authorized in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.

Global Involvement

The European Union (EU) Parliament has recognized the scope and urgency of the electronic waste problem approving two directives: the Waste from Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and a Directive on the Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronics Equipment (ROHS).

These two directives show that the EU understands the cost of cleaning up the legacy waste and building an ongoing electronic waste program. The WEEE Directive requires that producers supply systems for the treatment of E-waste.

The goals of the Directive are to prevent electronic waste, improve reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery to reduce electronic waste, and improve the environmental performance of all economic operators involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronics equipment.

The directive also requires Labeling of electronics by identifying the different components and materials within units. The ROHS require manufacturers to phase out the use of hazardous substances in the production of electrical and electronics equipment by 2006. Due to its danger to human health and the environment, lead is particularly targeted by this legislation.

The directive also places total financial responsibility on producers to set up collection, recycling and disposal systems, and contain effective and feasible goals for recycling.

SB20, legislation adopted in the state of California in September 03, creates a complex system funded by a customer paid recycling fee. Some critics of the legislation say that the $6 to $10 per unit fee will fall short of the eventual costs of properly collecting and managing obsolete computer systems.

California and Massachusetts have banned CRTs from landfill.

MA, MN, ME, IA, FL and several other states including TN have legislation in the works.

National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI) - has developed a hybrid program somewhat like California's SB 20 with recycle fee paid by consumer. The initiative calls for a third party organization to manage the fund. It also includes certain management practices and requirements on recyclers including an environmental management system. Critics say the NEPSI process will also fall short, leaving much of the cost to taxpayers and local governments for their collection, processing, and cleanup and that more stewardship on the part of manufacturers is called for. It is estimated that cost could exceed $7.5 billion between 2006 and 2015.