Post on 06-Jan-2018
description
Beyond Recycling
Sheila DavisSilicon Valley Toxics Coalition
August 2004
SVTC Mission Statement
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition does research, advocacy, and organizing to address human health and environmental problems caused by the rapid growth of the high-tech electronics industry. Our goal is to advance environmental sustainability and clean production in the industry, as well as to improve health, promote justice, and ensure democratic decision-making for communities and workers affected by the high-tech revolution.
Computer TakeBack Campaign
Take it backMake it clean
Recycle Responsibly www.computertakeback.com
Elements of CTBC Platform
Manufacturer takeback of equipmentReduction of toxic components
Increased recycled content Reduced packaging Upgradability Longevity Electronic waste bans on export & prison labor Clean manufacturing practices Design for reuse and recycling
Corporate Responsibility Vs
Product Design
Beyond Product Design
• Recycle Content• Toxics reductions• Design for Recycling
Corporate Responsibility
• Social Justice• Worker Health• Worker Rights• Community right to healthy
environment• Environmental Justice
Impacts -2
• From 1987 to 1993 US EPA reported that 177 tons of toxic chemicals were released into the air by just one high-tech facility in California.
• More than – 700 compounds used to make one computer work
station– 12 million computers amounting to more than
300,000 tons of electronic junk are disposed annually
A Semiconductor Wafer
Image: http://users.erols.com/circuits//
Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines for Electronic
ProductsMaterials of Concern (2)
• teratogenic = linked to birth defects• persistent = not easily excreted from
the body• bioaccumulative = magnifies up the
food chain• carcinogenic = cancer causing
Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines for
Electronic Products• Materials of Concern (3)
• reproductive toxin = linked to birth defects
• endocrine disruptor = disrupts the hormonal system
• mutagenic = causes mutations in cells
Global High-Tech Production is
Undergoing the Largest Industrial
Expansion in History
Piles of E-Waste
US Prisons
Quote: Myron Harrison, M.D., IBM, in Hazardous Materials Toxicology
What do Engineers and Designers
know?“ … Engineers are not evaluated nor
rewarded on their ability to… understand new or unusual health hazards… Unfortunately, the opportunities for professionals to be involved before these new processes arrive at the manufacturing floor are being diminished…”
Chart B Familiarity of designers with ecodesign topics (averaged values)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Hazards of lead
Concept of "Design for the Environment"
Hazards of persistent bioaccumulative toxins
EU RoHs Directive
Hazards of brominated f lame retardants
Not familiar (0) Very familiar (2.0)
Chart C Ability of designers to influence design attributes (averaged values)
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Form, color, texture
Finish type (paint, lamination)
Access to internal components
Ease of dissassembly
Multi-material inserts in plastic
Plastic type (incl. recycled content)
Flame retardant in plastic
Additives in plastic (phthalates, etc.)
Toxics in electronic components
Circuit board solder type
Design attribute
Not able to influence (0) Able to influence (3)
Chart F Importance of environmental and human health impacts of products to . . . (averaged values)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
the designer
the designer's clients
the designer'smanagers
Not important (0) Very important (2)
What We Know We Can Do
-Enforce Executive Order 12898-Use purchasing guidelines that included
Corporate Social Responsibility-Ask Companies about their supply
chain-Ask Companies about their Social
Responsibility reporting