Electronics Recycling WorkshopPresented in partnership by the

New Mexico Recycling Association and the National Recycling Coalition

Sponsored by Intel Corporation

June 7, 2002

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

Source: Stanford Resources, 1999

Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments, 1997-2005

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

Year

Mil

lion

s of

Uni

ts

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

Source: Stanford Resources, 1999

Average Product Lifespan (in years)Product First Life Total Lifespan

Desktop PC - 386 4 4-6

Desktop PC 486 3-4 4-6

Desktop PC – Pentium I 3 4-5

Desktop PC – Pentium II 2-3 3-4

Mainframe computer 7 7

Workstation computer 4-5 4-5

CRT Computer Monitor 4 6-7

CRT TV 5 6-7

Notebook PC 2-3 4

Computer peripherals 3 5

Source: Stanford Resources, 1999

Lifespan of PCs1992-2007

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

# o

f Y

ears

Obsolete PCs in the U.S., 1997-2007

Year

Units Shipped

[M]

Average Lifespan Share of PCs Lasting

Number of Obsolete

[M]4 years 3 years 2 years

1997 31 3.4 40% 60% 0% 18

1998 37 3.2 20% 80% 0% 21

1999 43 3.1 10% 90% 0% 24

2000 49 2.8 0% 80% 20% 32

2001 50 2.6 0% 60% 40% 42

2002 52 2.4 0% 40% 60% 55

2003 53 2.2 0% 20% 80% 63

2004 55 2.1 0% 10% 90% 61

2005 56 2.0 0% 0% 100% 63

2006 2.0 0% 0% 100% 60

2007 2.0 0% 0% 100% 61

Total 500

Source: Stanford Resources, 1999

Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments,Obsolescence and Recycling

1997-2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

Year

Mil

lion

s of

Un

its

ShippedRecycledObsolete

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Toxic material constituents

Information compiled from multiple sources.

Potentially Toxic Materials in PCsMaterial Use/Location Health Effects

Lead Metal joining, radiation/CRT, PWB (printed wiring board)

Damage to nervous and circulatory system, and kidneys; serious adverse effects on brain development

Mercury Batteries, switches/housing, PWB

Chronic brain, kidney, lung and fetal damage; effects on brain function and memory; a possible human carcinogen

Cadmium Battery, blue-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT

Pulmonary damage, kidney disease, bone fragility; likely human carcinogen

Arsenic Doping agent in transistors/PWB

Allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, decreased red and white blood cell production

Beryllium Thermal conductivity, PWB, connectors

Lung damage, allergic reactions, chronic beryllium disease; likely human carcinogen

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Toxic material constituents

+

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Toxic material constituents

+

No cogent strategy for end-of-life management

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Toxic material constituents

+

No cogent strategy for end-of-life management

=

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?

Proliferation of e-products

+

Increasingly short life-spans

+

Toxic material constituents

+

No cogent strategy for end-of-life management

=

Big Problem

Response to the Problem• Local governments mobilizing to prevent wholesale disposal

of e-waste• State governments beginning to regulate and mandate

potential solutions• Federal government proposing to declassify CRTs as

hazardous waste• OEM’s and retailers implementing patchwork of programs to

take back e-waste • Stakeholders convening under National Electronics Product

Stewardship Initiative• Electronic recycling enterprises and donation centers ramping

up

Current Status of Electronics Recycling Infrastructure

• Electronic recycling industry taking shape; most operations are independent, small-scale, labor intensive and regional

Stanford Resources, 1999

Distribution of Electronic Recyclers Sampled,

Percent of Total by Region

Mid-Atlantic14%

Midwest28%

New England

25%

South Central

6%

Southeast6%

West21%

Stanford Resources, 1999

Distribution of Recyclers Sampled, by Number of Employees

200+5%

100-1996%

50-1009%

10-5036%

<1044%

Current Status of Electronics Recycling Infrastructure

• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking shape; most operations are small-scale, labor intensive and regional

Current Status of Electronics Recycling Infrastructure

• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking shape; most operations are small-scale, labor intensive and regional

• Generators’ access to recycling varies by size, quality of used product stream, ability to pay, and geography

Recovery Options by Generator Type

Generator:

• Large Corporations/Organizations/Agencies

Options:

• Asset management/leasing opportunities with OEMs or equipment vendors

• Contracts with recyclers for material pick-up, processing and indemnification against future liability

Recovery Options by Generator Type

Generator:

• Small Businesses/Organizations

Options:

• Limited asset management/leasing opportunity• Limited municipal recovery

• Onus on generator to identify recycler and arrange for material pick-up/delivery

Recovery Options by Generator Type

Generator:

• Residential

Options:

• Collection programs increasingly available

• Local reuse options

• Potential for product return to retailers and/or OEMs

Key Unresolved Issues

• Who should bear/share program costs?

• How do we differentiate between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” recycling, particularly overseas?