Electronics Waste Debate Should Consider Small Business

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Electronics Waste Debate Should Consider Small Business

MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, Jun. 13 -/E-Wire/-- Electronics makers are feeling the pressure to cut a deal for a national takeback program, given that 26 states have introduced no less than 52 bills that would force the issue of recycling one way or another, according to State Recycling Laws Update from Raymond Communications, Inc. (http://www.raymond.com)

Both California and Massachusetts lawmakers are moving on manufacturer "takeback" (or EPR) bills.

The stakes are high, because if states try to implement a patchwork of individual "takeback" laws, "it could be disastrous," says publisher Michele Raymond, who has been tracking recycling policy for 15 years. "Many of these bills have not been thought through very well. There is a presumption that there are only a few computer 'manufacturers' out there, and that there will magically be U.S. markets for all of the material generated."

Consumers are now up to their ears in piles of E-junk collecting in their garages and basements. Without a coherent national plan., they will be stuck paying for needlessly complex recycling systems, with very little environmental benefit.

"If a state wants to require reporting and takeback of electronics items, they will have to locate all of the manufacturers," she notes. One often ignored fact is that a large percentage of computers sold are "boxes," assembled by local computer firms.

Moreover, the majority of electronics items and parts are made in Asia, so finding and forcing some of these far-flung companies to report and "take back" or pay fees could be nearly impossible.

Most of the bills focus on keeping cathode ray tubes (CRTs) out of landfills. In fact, four states have now banned CRTs from landfills (California. Massachusetts, Maine and Minnesota).

While no one wants the leaded glass in incinerators or landfills, recyclers say that within a few years, there may not be any U.S. markets for recycled CRT glass. Since Dow Corning is closing its Pennsylvania leaded glass plant, there are only four U.S. manufacturers are left, and they are having a difficult time competing with cheap Chinese imports.

A number of the state bills would ban exports of used electronics unless the receiving country has comparable working conditions to the U.S. "There will have to be some exports of electronics or components to Asia, because that is where electronics are now made" she says.

China's recent ban on imports of scrap electronics has not stopped the flow of old electronics to illegal operations, because they seem to get in "underground," Raymond points out, referring to a recent Washington Post story. However, the policy has stopped the critical feedstock for legitimate Chinese recyclers, and there are no opportunities for low income Chinese people to obtain refurbished computers.

Many more state bills would ban all heavy metals, brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride in electronics, with no exemptions. These are more stringent than the European Union RoHS directive, which has exemptions.

While there is no argument that lead and mercury should be phased out of products when feasible, there is little evidence that today's electronics are leaching heavy metals in landfills. Raymond notes that a European study found more lead in the environment from fishing sinkers than lead solder in circuit boards. Other technical reports cite concern that the expensive lead solder replacements may have worse environmental attributes, and may be more difficult to recycle.

A more recent study from the High Density Packaging User Group found that there was no cadmium, chromium VI or mercury used in today's circuit boards, contrary to estimates from a 1998 study widely quoted in the media.

"The big issue is not toxicity or whether retailers can take back old units -- but how to deal with the really old stuff in people's garages. There are hundreds of millions of old computers, TV, printers out there in storage. That's going to take cooperation of government and industry to cope with. No one has a clear handle on the volume or toxicity -- and no one wants to foot the bill."

Raymond is critical of industry one on point: computers need to be designed for upgradability, not obsolescence. "Long life would mean less waste. In this economy, small businesses cannot afford to replace their computers every two years."

Raymond Communications, publishes SRLU and Recycling Laws International. The in-depth report "Electronics Recycling: What to Expect from Global Mandates" will be updated in August.

Information: [REDACTED-PHONE] or check www.raymond.com For a press backgrounder on Electronics waste, please go to http://www.raymond.com/durables

Raymond Communications

http:// www.raymond.com

http://www.raymond.com/durables

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