WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN)WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! (WN)22 INSTITUTEINSTITUTE

Environmental Issues of E-Waste Environmental Issues of E-Waste

Train-the-Trainer WorkshopTrain-the-Trainer Workshop

June 14 – 18th, 2004

Center for Mathematics and Science Education

University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

Presented and Hosted

by

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded institute sponsored by the University of Arkansas and the Center for Mathematics and Science Education

Lynne HehrDirector, Center for Mathematics and Science Education

University of Arkansas

Stephan PollardDoctoral Student, Environmental Dynamics Ph.D. Program

University of Arkansas

SOLUTIONS

They Exist!

Current electronic waste pathways include:

Annual or periodic collection – community -sponsored one or two day collection event held once a year at a local drop-off site. In addition, these events are sometimes sponsored by retailers or other entities in a community other than the government agency.

On-going community collection – community drop-off site for continuing collection of end-of-life electronics, commonly located at a recycling center or a transfer station.

Broker/processor/recycler – companies engaged in the business of collection or receiving end-of-life electronics to be recycled or resold.

Reuse/donation – mission-driven non-profit organizations who facilitate the redistribution of working computers to schools, churches and needy populations, and provide a tax credit to donors.

Auction/employee sales – organizations can dispose of end-of-life electronics through public auction or by selling equipment to employees.

Traditional waste disposal – end of life electronics can be disposed of through traditional waste collection, ending up in landfills.

Storage/surplus – some people and organizations choose to stockpile electronics by storing in storage rooms, warehouses, basements, attics and garages.

Take back programs – some original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) have developed programs to take back their products at the end-of-life. Typically, there is a fee for mailing back. and the items are then recycled by the OEM or a service provider to the OEM.

Solutions: The Less-than-Optimal Current Practice

• Export of pollution absolves manufacturers of the need to prevent hazards and wastes upstream through product design

A majority of electronic waste (E-waste) collected by recyclers, much of it hazardous, is actually exported to developing countries[1]. There the recycling or direct dumping of the material results in a serious export of pollution to those countries. Environmental protections in developing countries are usually poor…

• Pollution Costs are being Externalized rather than Internalized[2]Putting E-waste into solid waste management systems -- landfills and

incinerators – is yet another way of externalizing costs - this time to be absorbed by local governments, taxpayers and communities in degraded health, contaminated water and air.

Yet another means of externalizing real costs for e-waste has been the use of taxpayer subsidized prison labor. Prisons are likely to unfairly compete with private sector recycling and thus deter the vitally needed development of a private sector infrastructure for domestic waste recycling. Further, it provides a form of corporate subsidy to manufacturers for downstream pollution management, instead of more appropriate upstream pollution management.

[1] Exporting Harm http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/technotrash.pdf[2] Ibid

Source: http://www.computertakeback.com/the_solutions/information_for_recyclers/index.cfm

What do you have?

A) Clean stuff appropriate for auction (Sorted, working, repairable monitors, peripherals, cords, cartridges, etc.)

1) Then you can probably deal with any E-Cycler directly.2) Take to Household Hazardous Waste collection point.3) Donate (if less than 3-years old, and has Pentium processor)4) Dispose through Manufacturer Take-Back programs

B) Toxic junk, contraband, leftovers (TV’s, obsolete stuff, cherry-picked material, residue, damaged CRTs, etc.)

1) You want domestic processing. Ask E-Cyclers where processing occurs.

2) Take to Household Hazardous Waste collection point.

C) “I dunno” … a mix of good, bad, and ugly stuff (A mixture of A and B)

1) You want to ship your stuff to a domestic E-Cycler that separates, processes and markets, and you should get documentation.2) Take to Household Hazardous Waste collection point.

4 Due Diligence Tests for Your E-Cyclers

1) ‘CRT Glass Test’

2) ‘Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Gold Test’

3) ‘Truth in Exporting Test’

4) ‘Employment / Capacity Test’

Because you want your discards handled in the most socially and environmentally responsible fashion.

4 Due Diligence Tests for Your E-Cyclers

1) ‘CRT Glass Test’

No known market in Asia for monitor and television CRT glass.

E-Cyclers should show where the non-repairable glass goes.

Photos: Basel Action Network

4 Due Diligence Tests for Your E-Cyclers

2) ‘Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Gold Test’The process of extracting gold from PCBs is chemically intensive.

The mining gold has resulted in large-scale environmental degradation (cyanide tailings in streams and rivers)

E-Cyclers should be able to document where printed circuit boards are processed.

Photo: ReutersPhoto: Basel Action Network Chinese circuit board / gold extractor

4 Due Diligence Tests for Your E-Cyclers

3) ‘Truth in Exporting Test’Ask the E-Cycler for shipping manifests but know that sensitive market info can be withheld.

Valid Bill of Lading will indicate:MakeModelVoltageCondition

The pickier the E-Cycler is about sending stuff overseas the better.

If stuff is being sent ‘for repair’ ask if it is wrapped, tested, sorted, and manifested.

4 Due Diligence Tests for Your E-Cyclers

4) ‘Employment / Capacity Test’Ask the E-Cycler:

1) How many tons the company handled last year?

2) How many Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees the company had last year?

Determine how many employees the company had per ton.

If the number of employees is low ask how much automated processing equipment is in place.

If there were only a few employees and lots and lots of tons handled then be suspicious. E-Cycler could be shipping perfectly good stuff out and therefore abusing the REUSE concept (cords, power supplies, CD-ROM drives, etc.).

DISASSEMBLYDISASSEMBLY

(Initial Recycling)(Initial Recycling)

BatteriesBatteries Circuit Circuit BoardsBoards

Cable Cable WireWire

MetalsMetals PlasticsPlastics MonitorsMonitors

ApprovedApprovedContainersContainers

PelletizePelletize ApprovedApprovedContainersContainers

PelletizePelletize PelletizePelletize Approved Approved ContainersContainers

BatteryBatteryRecyclerRecycler

Printed CBPrinted CBRecyclerRecycler

C & WC & WRecyclerRecycler

BrokerBroker Plastic Plastic RecyclerRecycler

MonitorMonitorRecyclerRecycler

Look for E-Cyclers with De-Manufacturing Processes Similar to This:

SEGREGATION of COMPONENTSSEGREGATION of COMPONENTS

Note: The above is an approximate representation of the process used by Image Microsystems, Austin, TX, an E-Cycler that has agreed to Pledge of True Stewardship

E-CYCLERS that have taken the Pledge of True Stewardship

California Hackett Enterprises

TrueCycle

United Datatech Distributors

Zak Enterprises   

Computer Recyclers of America

Electronics Partners Corporation (ePC)

Image Arts Foundation

eWaste, Inc.  

Nevada Global Investment Recovery, Inc.

Redemtech, Inc

Washington PC Salvage, LLC

Re-PC

Total Reclaim

The RE Store

Colorado Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX)

Illinois Sipi Metals

Michigan ReCellular, Inc.

Ohio Redemtech, Inc

Tennessee

5R Processors

Texas Resource Concepts, Inc.

Image Microsystems

Wisconsin Cascade Asset Mgmt., LLC

Scientific Recycling, Inc.

5R Processors

Connecticut Asset Recovery Corp.

Florida                    Maxim Industries USA

Global Investment Recovery, Inc.

Georgia

5R Processors

New York Complex Elements Corporation

5R Processors

Pennsylvania A greenSpan Computer Stewardship and Recycling Co

Western US Central US Eastern US

E-Waste & Household Hazardous Waste CollectionBaxter CountyBaxter County Road & Bridge Dept.2033 Highway 5 South(870) 425-3695open 8 a.m. - Noon, Mondays ONLY, or by appointment  Benton CountyRogers areaCall Haz-M.E.R.T.(479) 621-9707open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F), 8 a.m. - Noon (Sat)  Siloam Springs areaCall Siloam Springs Recycling Center & Transfer Station,(479) 524-8512open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F), 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Sat)  Carroll CountyCarroll County Solid Waste Authority & Transfer Station1106 Industrial Park Rd., Berryville(870) 423-7156 or (479) 253-2727open 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (M-F), 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Sat) Franklin CountyOzark Transfer Station16-1/2 Airport Rd.(479) 667-2423open 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (M-F), 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Sat)

Madison CountyMadison County Recycling Center(479) 738-6351E-Mail: recycle@madisoncounty.netopen 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F), 9 a.m. - noon (Sat)

Pulaski CountyPulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District410 W 3rd St Ste 210Little Rock, AR 72201(501) 340-8787Fax: (501) 340-8785E-Mail: jwilson@pulaskiswdistrict.orgLink to rotating Household Hazardous Waste Collection sites Scott CountyWaldron Transfer Station250 Pine St(479) 637-2614open 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (M-F) Sebastian CountyCounty landfill5900 Commerce Road(479) 784-2329 or (479) 784-2350open 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (M-F), 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Sat) Washington CountySpringdale Street DepartmentRandall Wobbe Road(479) 750-81357:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mondays ONLY Tri-County Solid Waste2615 Brink Dr, Fayetteville(479) 444-1860 or (888)426-9278open 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F)HHW Brochure

Manufacturer Take BackDell Computer Hardware Recycling ServicePhone: 1-800-915-3355 Email: environment_policy@dell.comVisit the Dell Web site http://www.dell4me.com/recycling

Hewlett-Packard Visit the Hewlett-Packard Web sitehttp://www.hp.com/recycle

IBMPhone: 1-888-746-7426 Visit the IBM Web site http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=1915868&storeId=1&langId=-1&catalogId=-840

Services: Dell's recycling service accepts all brand computer equipment including monitors, CPUs, laptops, printers, peripherals and Dell brand ink and toner cartridges. Materials are picked up at home or business by a carrier. Visit the website to order the service and instructions on packaging and shipping.

Restrictions: The package must weigh less than 50 pounds.

Cost: $15.00 to recycle a package of equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

Services: HP’s computer take-back program accepts any piece of computer hardware from any manufacturer. The service can be order on-line. When you order the hardware recycling service through April 31st 2005 HP will provide an e-coupon that can be used toward the purchase of new HP hardware at HPShopping.com. See the website for more details.

Restrictions: There are limits on the number of items that can be packaged per shipment. Visit the web site for more details.

Cost: The on-line service ranges from $13 to $34 per item, depending upon the type and quantity of hardware returned.

Services: The IBM PC Recycling Service allows consumers and businesses to recycle any manufacturer's PCs, including system units, monitors, printers and optional attachments for $29.99 which includes shipping. Purchase the PC Recycling Service by calling 1-888-746-7426. Ask for part number 06P7513. The "part" is a mailing label from UPS good for mailing one box, up to 26"x26"x26" and up to 69 pounds. Multiple units may be shipped in the same box.

Restrictions: Size and weight restrictions, see web site or call for details.

Cost: $29.99 per box, including shipping.

Cash for Cell Phones

CellForCash.comwww.cellforcash.com

OldCellPhone.com www.oldcellphone.com

Cell Phones for DonationCollectiveGoodwww.collectivegood.com

Donate a Phone Program www.wirelessrecycling.com

Wireless Phone Donation-Collection www.recyclewirelessphones.com