IAER ELECTRONICS RECYCLING NEWSLETTER

February 2000

INDUSTRY NEWS

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MAGAZINE COVERS COMPUTER RECYCLING

(Scientific American – February 2000: “Please Dispose of Properly”)

The latest issue of Scientific American provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities involved in the disposal of computers, based on interviews with the IAER and electronics recyclers. The article cited data from industry studies as well as interpretations of EPA regulations and the proposed directives in Europe. Examples were given of how the industry uses alternatives to landfill. The IAER was also acknowledged - “the trade association wants to bring the concerned parties to the table to establish environmental standards, develop technology for cost-effective recycling and build an effective infrastructure for managing the life cycle of electronics products”.

WEEE DIRECTIVE – European Take-Back Legislation

(Materials Recycling Week – UK)

The third draft Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment is still considered “unworkable” by industry in Europe. The issues cited include financing, enforcement, and applicability. It is estimated that in the UK, approximately 900K tons of electrical and electronic equipment are discarded annually. The average cost of recovery in the proposed take-back scheme is estimated to be around $200 per ton which was projected to increase the cost of electronic products by 1-3%.

EIA/EIC NEWS – Electronic Industries Alliance – An IAER Founding Organization

(EIC Update – December 1999)

For the complete report visit the EIA site at: http://www.eia.org/grd/eic/december_1999.htm

Superfund Recycling Amendments

The Recycling Equity Act provides an exemption from Superfund liability for certain recyclable materials. It is not yet clear that this will apply to electronics scrap, but if it does, “persons sending electronics to recycling facilities would have greater assurance that they will not be held liable if the recycler mishandles the material or if the material otherwise causes contamination”.

EIA Comments on Lower TRI Threshold for Lead

In response to the EPA’s proposal to lower the reporting threshold under the Toxic Release Inventory for lead and lead compounds, the EIA argued that “because lead used in electronics is not bioavailable and poses little risk of harmful exposure, requiring increased reporting by the electronics industry will provide little useful information while increasing the reporting burden on regulated entities”.

Proposal on Procurement of Environmentally Preferable Products

An amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation promotes the acquisition of products with recycled content. It “requires federal agencies to state a preference for products and/or services that have less effect on human health and the environment than other similar products”. This could, for example, provide an opportunity to promote the use of parts, materials and equipment that are reused, remanufactured or recycled.

Mercury Legislation

The EIA has been negotiating with Vermont concerning the applicability of the state’s mercury labeling law to electronic products. In addition, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association filed a lawsuit on behalf of lamp manufacturers on the grounds that the labeling requirement infringed on the interstate commerce provisions of the U.S. Constitution. In the meantime, an organization of state officials in the northeast, the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association, has drafted model mercury legislation that it hopes to promote in the six states in New England.

Massachusetts CRT Regulations

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and EPA Region I haved reached agreement on the regulation of CRTs. The proposed rule, which is scheduled to take effect April 1, 2000, will prohibit the disposal of CRTs in landfills, but not classify them as hazardous waste. Intact CRTs will not be considered waste “until a recycler … examines them and makes a … determination that they are not suitable for reuse or repair”. Those CRTs that are no longer considered operable will be subject to regulations similar to the Universal Waste Rule. In addition, the Massachusetts DEP will increase its grants to municipalities and recyclers this year to $300,000 for the management of CRTs.

Minnesota CRT Task Force

The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) has been conducting a series of meetings with representatives from industry, local governments, retailers and recyclers to discuss the management of CRTs. It is hoped that this process will “generate concrete strategies for managing CRTs so that they are not disposed of in the waste stream and the costs are not borne by the taxpayer”. In addition, the OEA has initiated a demonstration project involving the collection and recycling of electronics containing CRTs.

Report to OECD on Computer Recycling

In response to a request from the Secretariat of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the EIA submitted a report on computer recycling and the impediments created by regulations governing transboundary waste shipments.

CUTTER INFORMATION CORP. NEWS – An IAER Affiliate Publisher

(CutterEdge Environment Reports)

Voluntary Non-Regulatory Initiatives

The Conference Board of Canada reports that “although voluntary non-regulatory initiatives are becoming an increasingly popular way for corporations … to address environmental challenges, there are concerns about the effectiveness and credibility of the approach”. The report offers 12 case studies that illustrate how these initiatives work and perform.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development issued a report on Corporate Social Responsibility – “Making Good Business Sense”. With the objective of promoting the need for business leaders to satisfy a broad group of stakeholders beyond shareholders, the report offers companies guidance through the social challenges and dilemmas.

Corporate Environmental Reports

The Investor Responsibility Research Center reported that “more of the largest companies in the US are producing standalone environmental reports.” Their survey also included data on the certification of environmental management systems.

Global Climate Coalition

Ford Motor company is the first US-based company to quit the Global Climate Coalition. Ford said that “it has become a lightning rod for critics of the industry … (and) become … an impediment to move forward credibly on environmental issues”.

RAYMOND COMMUNICATIONS INC. NEWS – An IAER Affiliate Publisher

(State Recycling Laws & Recycling Laws International)

Electronic Equipment Exchange

The Southern Waste Information Exchange (SWIX) is developing an electronic equipment exchange “to foster the transfer of information concerning used electronic equipment” in their region.

Electronics Recycling Regulations in Sweden

Sweden is scheduled to implement a mandatory take-back system in 2001 that will “place the responsibility for disposal of both household and commercial electroscrap on producers”. Regulations are being finalized that will establish a network of licensed recyclers to deal with the waste stream.

European Electronics Directive

The European trade group, Orgalime, claims that the cost of complying with the proposed WEEE directive on end-of-life electronics will be enormous. It estimates initial costs of 90 billion Euros and 15 billion Euros annually thereafter.

CRT Recycling Plant in Amsterdam

Nichia Chemical Industries Ltd. of Japan is building a plant in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to recycle the phosphors used in CRTs. Nichia already has similar operations in Japan, the US, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Brazil Regulations on Electronics

Brazil has adopted Latin America’s first battery take-back regulation and is planning further action on electronics waste. A federal bill has already been introduced requiring the take-back of “technological trash” similar to the proposed WEEE directive in Europe.

SVTC Clean Computer Campaign

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is conducting a campaign to evaluate industry’s efforts to alleviate the potential problems associated with obsolete PCs. SVTC has developed a “scorecard” to judge individual companies based on an industry survey as well as research such as information available on company web sites.

ISO 14000 GAINING GROUND IN CANADA

(International Environmental Systems Update – January 2000)

Although the number of ISO 14001 registrations in Canada are fewer than other countries, they are increasing particularly in proportion to the size of the country. It is reported that this is due to government posture and supply chain developments. One role of that registration has been serving is the legal position of companies as evidence of due diligence in relation to environmental laws.

INDUSTRY EVENTS

TAKE IT BACK – PACIFIC RIM

This conference, with the theme “Forging New Alliances for Waste Reduction” will be held on February 28-March 1 in Los Angeles It is produced by Raymond Communications, an IAER Affiliate. The program includes a number of presentations and workshops related to the electronics industry and recycling. For more information visit the web site: http://www.raymond.com/

STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS RECYCLING

The Gordon Institute at Tufts University has been conducting a series of “Stakeholder Dialogue on Recycling Engineering Thermoplastics from Used Electronic Equipment”, funded by the USA EPA Office of Solid Waste. The 3rd session held on December 9, focused on supply chain collaboration for building the recycling infrastructure and material supply. Participants included a balanced mix of resin suppliers, molders, original equipment manufacturers, plastics processors, recyclers, government officials and other experts. Several recurring strategies have emerged to date, including:

· create economic data and models for plastics recycling;

· develop new applications for EETPs with wide material specification;

· need for material specifications for recycled resins;

· need for cost-effective and “fool proof” resin identification and sorting systems;

· identify current and future sources of resins (e.g., which resins, where);

· need for regional consolidation of resins;

· design for recyclability and standardization in new product designs; and

· create preferential procurement programs to drive demand.

The next Stakeholder Dialogue will be held on March 14 in Boston. For more information contact Patricia Dillon at: dillon@seacoast.com

DEER2

The DOD sponsored program on Demanufacturing of Electronic Equipment for Reuse and Recycling will conduct its next Stakeholders Meeting on February 18 in Largo, FL. The DEER2 Team will present the system concepts and equipment/processing options planned for the demonstration and validation facility. Concurrent Technologies Corporation, an IAER Associate Member, manage the DEER2 program. For more information about the program and the Stakeholders meeting visit the web site:

http://www.deer2.com/

NRC ONLINE DISCUSSIONS

The National Recycling Coalition hosted two online discussions on electronics recycling during January.

· Proper Management of Cathode Ray Tubes – January 13

· Proper Management of End-of-Life Electronics (other than CRTs) – January 27

Transcripts of the discussions are available on the web site:

http://www.nrc-recycle.org/programs/electronics

ELECTRONICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT RECYCLING SUMMIT

Plans are continuing to progress for the major new series of events on electronics recycling scheduled for the week of May 8 in San Francisco. The “SUMMIT” is being organized and presented by a group of leadership organizations, including the IAER. With a focus on promoting collaboration among organizations to build the infrastructure, this is a unique opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities including meetings, workshops, conference sessions and exhibits. Watch this Newsletter for more details as they develop.

In the meantime, click here for an overview of the SUMMIT Program.

IAER NEWS

WORKSHOP

The IAER is organizing a Workshop to initiate the development of an Industry Roadmap that will be held during the SUMMIT series of events (above). The objectives of the roadmapping process are to:

1. build an effective and efficient infrastructure for the Electronics Recycling Industry

2. focus on problems, needs and challenges to develop common solutions

3. facilitate Projects, Programs and Partnerships to address those solutions

This workshop will focus initially on several major areas to start the process:

· Plastics

· CRTs/Glass

· Infrastructure

· Handling Hazardous Materials

· Reuse

Background information on the issues, challenges and opportunities involved will be prepared and presented by teams of industry experts. Attendees will then be organized into breakout sessions to discuss needs and actions. This important Workshop will be open to all SUMMIT attendees. Watch this Newsletter for more details as they develop.

CERTIFICATION

The IAER program to establish a process for certifying electronics recyclers has reached another important milestone. Proposals have been received from a number of outstanding companies in the field that are being evaluated to select a Certification Service Provider. In the meantime, three industry leading companies from among the Founding Members of the IAER have volunteered to be part of the Pilot Program to test and debug the certification process prior to making it available to the general membership of the IAER later this year. Watch this Newsletter for further progress reports on this important program.

OUTREACH

The IAER is continuing to expand its efforts to reach out to organizations that are involved and interested in electronics recycling with the objective of working together for the benefit of the industry. Most recently, meetings were held with:

· West Virginia National Electronics Recycling Center – The IAER met with the WVNERC Team to explore opportunities to participate in this major DOE funded program on electronics recycling, particularly in the areas of Information Technology Tools, R&D and Industry Strategies.

· NorthEast Recycling Council – The IAER met with the leadership of NERC to explore opportunities to collaborate on projects and programs. NERC brings together representatives of agencies in 10 states in the Northeast USA to address issues that link recycling and economic development. To facilitate collaboration between the two organizations, the IAER joined NERC as an Advisory Member and NERC joined the IAER as an Associate Member.

	IAER ELECTRONICS RECYCLING NEWSLETTER February 2000 INDUSTRY NEWS SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MAGAZINE COVERS COMPUTER RECYCLING (Scientific American – February 2000: “Please Dispose of Properly”) The latest issue of Scientific American provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities involved in the disposal of computers, based on interviews with the IAER and electronics recyclers. The article cited data from industry studies as well as interpretations of EPA regulations and the proposed directives in Europe. Examples were given of how the industry uses alternatives to landfill. The IAER was also acknowledged - “the trade association wants to bring the concerned parties to the table to establish environmental standards, develop technology for cost-effective recycling and build an effective infrastructure for managing the life cycle of electronics products”. WEEE DIRECTIVE – European Take-Back Legislation (Materials Recycling Week – UK) The third draft Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment is still considered “unworkable” by industry in Europe. The issues cited include financing, enforcement, and applicability. It is estimated that in the UK, approximately 900K tons of electrical and electronic equipment are discarded annually. The average cost of recovery in the proposed take-back scheme is estimated to be around $200 per ton which was projected to increase the cost of electronic products by 1-3%. EIA/EIC NEWS – Electronic Industries Alliance – An IAER Founding Organization (EIC Update – December 1999) For the complete report visit the EIA site at: http://www.eia.org/grd/eic/december_1999.htm Superfund Recycling Amendments The Recycling Equity Act provides an exemption from Superfund liability for certain recyclable materials. It is not yet clear that this will apply to electronics scrap, but if it does, “persons sending electronics to recycling facilities would have greater assurance that they will not be held liable if the recycler mishandles the material or if the material otherwise causes contamination”. EIA Comments on Lower TRI Threshold for Lead In response to the EPA’s proposal to lower the reporting threshold under the Toxic Release Inventory for lead and lead compounds, the EIA argued that “because lead used in electronics is not bioavailable and poses little risk of harmful exposure, requiring increased reporting by the electronics industry will provide little useful information while increasing the reporting burden on regulated entities”. Proposal on Procurement of Environmentally Preferable Products An amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation promotes the acquisition of products with recycled content. It “requires federal agencies to state a preference for products and/or services that have less effect on human health and the environment than other similar products”. This could, for example, provide an opportunity to promote the use of parts, materials and equipment that are reused, remanufactured or recycled. Mercury Legislation The EIA has been negotiating with Vermont concerning the applicability of the state’s mercury labeling law to electronic products. In addition, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association filed a lawsuit on behalf of lamp manufacturers on the grounds that the labeling requirement infringed on the interstate commerce provisions of the U.S. Constitution. In the meantime, an organization of state officials in the northeast, the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association, has drafted model mercury legislation that it hopes to promote in the six states in New England. Massachusetts CRT Regulations The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and EPA Region I haved reached agreement on the regulation of CRTs. The proposed rule, which is scheduled to take effect April 1, 2000, will prohibit the disposal of CRTs in landfills, but not classify them as hazardous waste. Intact CRTs will not be considered waste “until a recycler … examines them and makes a … determination that they are not suitable for reuse or repair”. Those CRTs that are no longer considered operable will be subject to regulations similar to the Universal Waste Rule. In addition, the Massachusetts DEP will increase its grants to municipalities and recyclers this year to $300,000 for the management of CRTs. Minnesota CRT Task Force The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) has been conducting a series of meetings with representatives from industry, local governments, retailers and recyclers to discuss the management of CRTs. It is hoped that this process will “generate concrete strategies for managing CRTs so that they are not disposed of in the waste stream and the costs are not borne by the taxpayer”. In addition, the OEA has initiated a demonstration project involving the collection and recycling of electronics containing CRTs. Report to OECD on Computer Recycling In response to a request from the Secretariat of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the EIA submitted a report on computer recycling and the impediments created by regulations governing transboundary waste shipments. CUTTER INFORMATION CORP. NEWS – An IAER Affiliate Publisher (CutterEdge Environment Reports) Voluntary Non-Regulatory Initiatives The Conference Board of Canada reports that “although voluntary non-regulatory initiatives are becoming an increasingly popular way for corporations … to address environmental challenges, there are concerns about the effectiveness and credibility of the approach”. The report offers 12 case studies that illustrate how these initiatives work and perform. Corporate Social Responsibility The World Business Council for Sustainable Development issued a report on Corporate Social Responsibility – “Making Good Business Sense”. With the objective of promoting the need for business leaders to satisfy a broad group of stakeholders beyond shareholders, the report offers companies guidance through the social challenges and dilemmas. Corporate Environmental Reports The Investor Responsibility Research Center reported that “more of the largest companies in the US are producing standalone environmental reports.” Their survey also included data on the certification of environmental management systems. Global Climate Coalition Ford Motor company is the first US-based company to quit the Global Climate Coalition. Ford said that “it has become a lightning rod for critics of the industry … (and) become … an impediment to move forward credibly on environmental issues”. RAYMOND COMMUNICATIONS INC. NEWS – An IAER Affiliate Publisher (State Recycling Laws & Recycling Laws International) Electronic Equipment Exchange The Southern Waste Information Exchange (SWIX) is developing an electronic equipment exchange “to foster the transfer of information concerning used electronic equipment” in their region. Electronics Recycling Regulations in Sweden Sweden is scheduled to implement a mandatory take-back system in 2001 that will “place the responsibility for disposal of both household and commercial electroscrap on producers”. Regulations are being finalized that will establish a network of licensed recyclers to deal with the waste stream. European Electronics Directive The European trade group, Orgalime, claims that the cost of complying with the proposed WEEE directive on end-of-life electronics will be enormous. It estimates initial costs of 90 billion Euros and 15 billion Euros annually thereafter. CRT Recycling Plant in Amsterdam Nichia Chemical Industries Ltd. of Japan is building a plant in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to recycle the phosphors used in CRTs. Nichia already has similar operations in Japan, the US, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Brazil Regulations on Electronics Brazil has adopted Latin America’s first battery take-back regulation and is planning further action on electronics waste. A federal bill has already been introduced requiring the take-back of “technological trash” similar to the proposed WEEE directive in Europe. SVTC Clean Computer Campaign The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is conducting a campaign to evaluate industry’s efforts to alleviate the potential problems associated with obsolete PCs. SVTC has developed a “scorecard” to judge individual companies based on an industry survey as well as research such as information available on company web sites. ISO 14000 GAINING GROUND IN CANADA (International Environmental Systems Update – January 2000) Although the number of ISO 14001 registrations in Canada are fewer than other countries, they are increasing particularly in proportion to the size of the country. It is reported that this is due to government posture and supply chain developments. One role of that registration has been serving is the legal position of companies as evidence of due diligence in relation to environmental laws. INDUSTRY EVENTS TAKE IT BACK – PACIFIC RIM This conference, with the theme “Forging New Alliances for Waste Reduction” will be held on February 28-March 1 in Los Angeles It is produced by Raymond Communications, an IAER Affiliate. The program includes a number of presentations and workshops related to the electronics industry and recycling. For more information visit the web site: http://www.raymond.com/ STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE ON PLASTICS RECYCLING The Gordon Institute at Tufts University has been conducting a series of “Stakeholder Dialogue on Recycling Engineering Thermoplastics from Used Electronic Equipment”, funded by the USA EPA Office of Solid Waste. The 3rd session held on December 9, focused on supply chain collaboration for building the recycling infrastructure and material supply. Participants included a balanced mix of resin suppliers, molders, original equipment manufacturers, plastics processors, recyclers, government officials and other experts. Several recurring strategies have emerged to date, including: · create economic data and models for plastics recycling; · develop new applications for EETPs with wide material specification; · need for material specifications for recycled resins; · need for cost-effective and “fool proof” resin identification and sorting systems; · identify current and future sources of resins (e.g., which resins, where); · need for regional consolidation of resins; · design for recyclability and standardization in new product designs; and · create preferential procurement programs to drive demand. The next Stakeholder Dialogue will be held on March 14 in Boston. For more information contact Patricia Dillon at: dillon@seacoast.com DEER2 The DOD sponsored program on Demanufacturing of Electronic Equipment for Reuse and Recycling will conduct its next Stakeholders Meeting on February 18 in Largo, FL. The DEER2 Team will present the system concepts and equipment/processing options planned for the demonstration and validation facility. Concurrent Technologies Corporation, an IAER Associate Member, manage the DEER2 program. For more information about the program and the Stakeholders meeting visit the web site: http://www.deer2.com/ NRC ONLINE DISCUSSIONS The National Recycling Coalition hosted two online discussions on electronics recycling during January. · Proper Management of Cathode Ray Tubes – January 13 · Proper Management of End-of-Life Electronics (other than CRTs) – January 27 Transcripts of the discussions are available on the web site: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/programs/electronics ELECTRONICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT RECYCLING SUMMIT Plans are continuing to progress for the major new series of events on electronics recycling scheduled for the week of May 8 in San Francisco. The “SUMMIT” is being organized and presented by a group of leadership organizations, including the IAER. With a focus on promoting collaboration among organizations to build the infrastructure, this is a unique opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities including meetings, workshops, conference sessions and exhibits. Watch this Newsletter for more details as they develop. In the meantime, click here for an overview of the SUMMIT Program. IAER NEWS WORKSHOP The IAER is organizing a Workshop to initiate the development of an Industry Roadmap that will be held during the SUMMIT series of events (above). The objectives of the roadmapping process are to: 1. build an effective and efficient infrastructure for the Electronics Recycling Industry 2. focus on problems, needs and challenges to develop common solutions 3. facilitate Projects, Programs and Partnerships to address those solutions This workshop will focus initially on several major areas to start the process: · Plastics · CRTs/Glass · Infrastructure · Handling Hazardous Materials · Reuse Background information on the issues, challenges and opportunities involved will be prepared and presented by teams of industry experts. Attendees will then be organized into breakout sessions to discuss needs and actions. This important Workshop will be open to all SUMMIT attendees. Watch this Newsletter for more details as they develop. CERTIFICATION The IAER program to establish a process for certifying electronics recyclers has reached another important milestone. Proposals have been received from a number of outstanding companies in the field that are being evaluated to select a Certification Service Provider. In the meantime, three industry leading companies from among the Founding Members of the IAER have volunteered to be part of the Pilot Program to test and debug the certification process prior to making it available to the general membership of the IAER later this year. Watch this Newsletter for further progress reports on this important program. OUTREACH The IAER is continuing to expand its efforts to reach out to organizations that are involved and interested in electronics recycling with the objective of working together for the benefit of the industry. Most recently, meetings were held with: · West Virginia National Electronics Recycling Center – The IAER met with the WVNERC Team to explore opportunities to participate in this major DOE funded program on electronics recycling, particularly in the areas of Information Technology Tools, R&D and Industry Strategies. · NorthEast Recycling Council – The IAER met with the leadership of NERC to explore opportunities to collaborate on projects and programs. NERC brings together representatives of agencies in 10 states in the Northeast USA to address issues that link recycling and economic development. To facilitate collaboration between the two organizations, the IAER joined NERC as an Advisory Member and NERC joined the IAER as an Associate Member.

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