Electronics Recycling

Systems and Policies in the

United StatesJason Linnell

Executive Director, NCER

Overview

• NCER BackgroundNCER Background• Electronics Recycling Issue Electronics Recycling Issue

OverviewOverview• State Responses to ChallengeState Responses to Challenge• Federal Activity 2006-07Federal Activity 2006-07• Trends/OutlookTrends/Outlook

National Center for Electronics Recycling

1) The coordination of initiatives targeting the recycling of used electronics in the United States

1) Participation in pilot projects to advance and encourage electronics recycling

2) The development of programs that reduce the burden of government through private management of electronics recycling systems

• Non-profit 501c3Non-profit 501c3• Located in Parkersburg, WV area (Davisville)Located in Parkersburg, WV area (Davisville)

Polymer Tech Park

Mission: Dedicated to the development and Dedicated to the development and enhancement of a national infrastructure for the enhancement of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used electronics in the U.S. through:recycling of used electronics in the U.S. through:

Growing Pile

• Technology Changes Internet access, computing power in last 10 years Analog to Digital TV, rollout of HDTV

• + Increasing Sales • + Undesirable Materials (lead, mercury,

cadmium)• + Costs collect, transport, and recycle• = Enormous Challenge• How much is out there - ????

State-Level Policy Activities

How are states handling the challenge?

• Four programs with mandatory financing CA, ME, MD, and WA 50 million US residents or 16% of US population

• Others with recent study commissions MO, IL, RI, LA

• Upcoming or recent disposal bans MN, NH, RI, AR (others MA, CA)

• Coordinated regional policy strategy Northeast States: CT, DE, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI,

VT Midwest States: MN, MI, IL, WI, IA

California

• Law passed in 2003• Point of sale fee on for any purchase of

certain products over 4 inches diagonal screen size$6, $8, or $10 depending on screen size

• Effective January 1, 2005 on: CRT devices (TVs & monitors)LCD devices (laptops and monitors)LCD and Plasma TVs added July 1, 2005Portable DVD players added Jan 1 2007But NOT desktop computers, other audio/video devices

CA Law Fee Implementation

• 20,000 retailers; 28,500 locations registered to collect fee

• 90% of fees from 300 large retailers filing monthly; 8-9,000 active quarterly filers

• 2005: Collected $73 million in fees• 2006: Through Q3, collected $54.6 million in fees

Projected 2006 total fees: $72-74 million

• Total gov’t admin costs through 6/30/06: $11.6 million10.9% of fees collected

CA Law Recycling Implementation

• Collected fees into state fund, administered by CIWMB

• Disbursements made to qualified collectors and recyclers at $0.48/lb

• 529 Approved Collectors; 55 Approved Recyclers

• In 2005: Paid out $31 million for 65 m lbs 1.79 lbs/capita

• Preliminary 2006: $60 million paid out for 124 million lbs 3.4 lbs/capita (191% growth from 1st year)

Maine Law• Passed in 2004: covers TVs and computer monitors

(includes laptops) from Maine households

• Municipalities collect from household, send/contract to state-approved consolidators (facility or pickup) Collection from household not funded by system

• Consolidators count brands, follow ESM guidelines, bill manufacturers for actual count of claimed brands + orphan share

• Manufacturers submit compliance plans, file reports, pay invoices from all (6) consolidators

Maine LawImplementation

• Began 1/18/06

• 6 consolidators approved for 2007, 3 up and running

• 3 govt staff managing program, plus staff at consolidator – tracking brands, invoicing OEMs

• 1st 5 months of program estimates:– 1,291,202 lbs collected, annualized = 2.42 lbs/capita

• 2006 current estimate:– 2.85 lbs/capita

ManufacturerTV Pro Rata % 2007

TV Pro Rata % 2006

Monitor Pro Rata % 2007

Monitor Pro Rata % 2006

% Variance

Apple     7% 15% -8%

Funai11% 6%   5%

Gateway, Inc.     14% 9% 5%

GE (not Thomson) 18% 0%   18%

Hewlett-Packard Company     14% 17% -3%

NEC Solutions (America), Inc.3% 7% -4%

Thomson 4% 22%     -18%

Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc. 0% 4% -4%

ViewSonic Corporation World Headquarters     3% 0% 3%

Maine Orphan Pro-Rata Share Changes

Maryland Computer Recycling Law

• Passed in 2005

• Creates statewide computer recycling pilot program for 5 years Effective January 1, 2006, Ends 12/31/10

• Registration and fee required for manufacturers of more than 1,000 computers per year 1,000 can be sold anywhere, not just in MD

• Computers defined as: “desktop personal computer or laptop computer, including the computer monitor”

Maryland Recycling Law cont’d

• Initial Registration fee $5000, then: $5,000 if manufacturer does NOT implement a

computer take-back program $500 if manufacturer DOES implement a program

• Registration money into state recycling trust fund Used to provide collection/recycling grants to local governments

• First year for education campaign/survey, not recycling grants

• Registered Manufacturers as of 2/2/07: 50 Companies for 2006 25 Companies for 2007 (January 1 deadline!)

Washington Law

• Newest Law – signed March 2006 4th major state electronics recycling program Different than other 3 in significant ways

• Producer Responsibility with default Manufacturer responsible for “equivalent share” either on own

or pay into State quasi-govt organization No collection goal, but must meet your % at year’s end or pay

penalty (refund if collecting more than %)

Covers CA/ME products + Desktop Computers Ban on exports to developing countries according to Basel

Convention [VETOED] Programs must be effective Jan 2009

Washington LawImplementation

• Manufacturer Administration Fee Registration and Fee required 1/5/07 for sale or penalty to

manuf & retailer Based on market share: $23 - $48,900

So far, 113 manufacturers with 168 total brands

• Establishment of WMMFA Board Board Members for 2007: Apple, Deer Park Computer Sales

and Service, Dell, HP, Lenovo, No Nonsense Computers, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Wal-Mart

• Return Share Sampling NCER Project for Dept of Ecology, with statisticians Sampling results used for “preliminary return shares” in June,

final in August

• Standard and Independent Plans due Feb 2008

Disposal Bans

• In effect California: CRTs and all consumer electronic

devices Massachusetts: CRTs Maine: CRTs Minnesota: CRTs

• Upcoming Rhode Island: CRTs New Hampshire (video display devices) Arkansas: authority to DEQ in 2008

Patchwork Study

• NCER initiative under National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse www.ecyclingresource.org

• ID and quantify “dead weight” costs of differing state programs Sought input from all stakeholders Assumes 2 additional states by 2012

• Findings Recurring costs per year: $25 million One time costs per new state: $3 million

A Study of theState-by-State

E-Waste Patchwork

An analysis of its economic

and other effects on industry,

government and consumers

October 2006

Recent Proposed State Legislation

Legislation in 2006

• Over 25 states introduced• Types of Bills

Advanced recovery fees – at POS and Manufacturer/first point of possession

Producer responsibility, many variations Studies, commissions & task forces Landfill &/or incineration bans California amendments (product scope, material

restrictions)/Maine amendments

Legislation in 2007

• Currently 22 states with active bills– 2 states already rejected bills (MS, VA)

• Types of Bills Advanced recovery fees – SC, NJ Producer responsibility, NERC/Midwest Models

CT, HI, (MA),NE, NJ, NY, PA, UT, VT OR, MNSC, TN (no TVs program)

Studies, commissions & task forces – KY, MI Landfill &/or incineration bans Existing law changes – CA, MD Tax credits, other – MT, IN, NM

Federal Activity

Congress

• 2005: E-Waste Working Group formed – four House Representatives2 Hearings in House, one in Senate

• Previous Bills in House and Senate, not moving1 ARF, two based on tax credits for

manufacturers and/or consumers• Meetings held in late 2006

Some working on legislation for this session

Other Federal Activity

• EPA Baseline Data Report forthcoming• Department of Commerce Report –

released July 2006• Government Accountability Office

2005 Report

Conclusions/Outlook

• More to learn in 2007 CA implementation compared to MD/ME Movement towards WA implementation

• More state programs? MA, MN, WI, MI, OR, IL Pressure on RI, NH from 2006 bills Will Regional models ensure harmonization?

• Will Congress move on legislation?Will increasing state differences lead to

more national action? Look for update of Patchwork Study

Thank You!

Jason Linnell, NCERPhone: (304) 699-1008jlinnell@electronicsrecycling.org

Visit us on the web:www.ncerwv.org