|
|
Building upon numerous studies and the experience of recycling systems in other industries and in other countries, many stakeholders believe the private sector could make an important contribution to the administration of U.S. electronics recycling system(s).
In the United States, stakeholders from across public, private and non-government organization (NGO) sectors have explored the benefits and challenges of third party arrangements to collect and recycle used electronics through a series of studies and collaborative efforts. NERIC has pulled together these studies and documents from real-world third parties to help illuminate the issues associated with potential application of this approach on a national basis in the United States.
Electronics Recycling Organizations Abroad
There are several existing and developing electronics recycling administrations in Europe, including a pan-European program created by HP, Sony, Braun and Electrolux called the European Recycling Platform. Several national administrations also have been created to manage collection and recycling operations, and a current list of 2 dozen of these organizations is available from the website of the association of collective electronics take-back systems in Europe called the WEEE Forum. The WEEE Forum web site also includes downloads of the approved and amended directives of the European Parliament on both waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS), see WEEE Forum Downloads. Additional information on WEEE/RoHS implementation is available on a website created by the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Closer to home, Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPS Canada) was created in 2004 to develop a national electronics end-of-life program in Canada. EPS Canada was created by two Canadian industry trade associations and is led by most of the leading electronics manufacturers in the Canadian market. On the EPS Canada website are links to existing manufactuers' programs and provicial/territorial regulations and programs.
Studies and Background Reports
In support of a multi-stakeholder effort called the Multi-State Third Party Organization project, in 2005 the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) assembled several documents and draft reports on various third party administrations supporting a range of different types of electronics recycling systems. Several of those documents can be viewed at the NCER Multi-State Third Party Organization Page. In August, 2005 the NCER developed a matrix of a dozen existing and proposed electronics recycling systems around the U.S. and abroad. Each system was described according to 10 possible functions and roles potentially or actually assumed by a private third party. See Possible Roles for TPO in Existing and Proposed Electronics Recycling Systems (August, 2005). Another source of more than a dozen relevant studies, reports and interviews is available at the MARCEE TPO Research Page. In addition to information about several European and Canadian efforts to explore and implement private sector system administration, this page contains documents from several key state studies and draft technical documents from National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative work (2001-2004).
In December, 2005 the Washington State Department of Ecology published a report "Implementing and Financing An Electronic Product Collection, Recycling and Reuse Program For Washington State". Among other items this report recommends creation of a Washington State Materials Management and Financing Authority. The Washington State Legislature passed legislation in 2006 (S6428) that mandates electronics recycling and the creation of this Authority, which formed under the management of an 11 member manufacturer board in early 2007. More information on this Washington Authority is available from the WMMFA web site.
The final report of the Northwest Third Party Organization is available here: Final Business Plan, Project Overview, and Appendices (full report) . The project, which involved manufacturers, governments, and non-profit groups, developed a business plan for a possible electronics recycling Third Party Organization to operate in Washington and Oregon.
Recent U.S. Developments
Since 2006 the NCER has managed a third party operation pilot project in West Virginia on behalf of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). The NCER arranges local electronics recycling collection events with local partners that has resulted in the recycling of more than 500,000 lbs. of used electronics. More information on the 2007 activities of this third party operations pilot is available from the NCER West Virginia Collection Program page. Also, at the 2007 E-Scrap Conference in Atlanta the NCER announced formation of Product Ecology LLC with Alcorn Consulting and Strategic Counsel LLC. This new company was created to provide compliance advice and management services to electronics manufacturers on recycling, substance restrictions and other environmental matters.
More recently, three electronics manufacturers announced a joint venture to serve the needs of electronics manufacturers who will be responsible for take-back of products under new electronic waste recycling laws, as well as the needs of consumers for convenient access to electronic recycling opportunities. This new company, called Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (“MRM”) debuted in 2007 and operates a collection and recycling program in Minnesota to satisfy recently legislated requirements for participating manufacturers in that state. It was formed by Panasonic Corporation of North America, Sharp Electronics Corporation and Toshiba America Consumer Products, LLC and a press release on its formation was released during the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Stay tuned to this NERIC Third Party Research page for more information on electronics recycling system implementation. For more information or if you have relevant information to share, send an email to info@ecyclingresource.org. | |
|
