Electronics Recycling

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING REPORT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES

The U.S. Commerce Department has issued a report titled "Recycling Technology Products: An Overview of E-Waste Policy Issues" that highlights the issues manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, environmental organizations and other stakeholders face as they adopt policies and procedures to manage obsolete electronics.

The report offers stakeholder recommendations for an electronics recycling system, including goals for a national system, collection methods, recycling guidelines, financing mechanisms, minimizing compliance costs and maximizing participation and incentives for a market-driven solution.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology Robert Cresanti addressed attendees of the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) governance meeting in Washington in July on the importance of properly managing end-of-live electronics.

"Federally, we’re committed to help fashion a balanced, equitable solution so that we can not only preserve our environment but also our nation’s economic strength for our children," Cresanti said. "Removing unnecessary burdens from the technology sector in order to enable them to compete in today’s global market remains critical for the industry and our nation."

He added, "We hope this report will help policymakers and legislators to make well-informed decisions and assist them in developing a commonsense approach to the e-recycling challenge—one that provides certainty, consistency and clarity for consumers governments and all stakeholders."

"ISRI welcomes and applauds the thorough efforts of the Department of Commerce to engage in this timely discussion," says Robin Wiener, ISRI’s president. "This report will help policymakers understand the complexities of electronics recycling so that legislative or regulatory proposals strengthen, rather than hinder, the marketplace for these materials."

The organization, however, took exception to the term "e-waste" in the report, instead suggesting use of the term "e-scrap" to more accurately describe recyclable materials from electronic devices. The report acknowledges the existence of both terms.

"The Commerce Department study hopes to promote market-based solutions to electronics recycling issues," Wiener says. "Yet one of the greatest challenges faced in this industry is the improper designation of recyclable materials as ‘waste,’ often leading to legislative and regulatory complications that are unnecessarily burdensome to recycling," Weiner says.

"Scrap is not waste, and recycling is not disposal. Successful policy will make this distinction," says Weiner

ISRI says successful policy must also create a competitive environment among manufacturers to reduce the costs of recycling electronic products and to enhance Design for Recycling (DFR). DFR calls upon manufacturers to design products that can be easily recycled and that minimize or eliminate using toxic materials.

"It is only logical that the best place to address the major challenges to recycling products is in their design stage," says ISRI Chair Frank Cozzi. "Addressing a product’s end-of-life issues in its design can save enormous amounts of energy and resources."

He adds, "Ultimately, we should address this issue in a way that is not overburdened with regulation; that encourages a marketplace economy; that protects America’s environment; and that supports our national and global economy."

The report is available through www.RecyclingToday.com or by visiting the Commerce Department’s Technology Administration at www.technology.gov/reports.htm.