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Introduction
Introductions Agenda review NWPSC mission and definition of product
stewardship Relevance to upcoming legislation
A presentation and dialogue with the Northwest Product Stewardship Councilon Product Stewardship & Electronics
OPEN FORUM
Audience concerns and major issues with electronics
What information will be helpful to get from workshop
How are electronics currently handled in individual jurisdictions?
Toxic substances in electronics Toxicity in all phases of product life Production – mining and manufacturing Use – off-gassing of flame retardants Recycling and disassembly – potential for
worker exposure and toxic releases Disposal – lead, copper, mercury, etc.
TOXICITY
Definition and responsibilities of Dangerous Waste Generators
Landfill owner or operator liability Enforcement CRTs designate as Dangerous Waste Ecology’s Interim Enforcement Policy on CRTs Generators pay
Federal and State Hazardous/Dangerous Waste Regulations
REGULATIONS
Local governments may choose to regulates Small Quantity Generator and/or Household Hazardous Wastes (SQG or HHW)
Examples of local regulations Disposal ban issues – need for alternative
solutions Local governments and rate/tax payers pay
Local Rules and RegulationsREGULATIONS
Questions about toxicity and regulations and how they are applied
Cost issues – who pays and how much?
OPEN FORUM
The Case for Product Stewardship
Electronics Product StewardshipElectronics Product Stewardship
Manufactured Globally
Manufactured Globally
No economic
incentive for
manufacturers to
minimize environmental
Impacts.
Product Stewardship – The Old EditionManufactured Globally
Disposed LocallyDisposed Locally
GO DIRECTLY TO LANDFILL.
DO NOT PASS GO.
Product Stewardship – The Old Edition
Disposed LocallyDisposed Locally
Should local governments
and rate payers cover the
costs of handling
electronic wastes?
Product Stewardship – The Old Edition
Linear LifecycleThe Linear Lifecycle of Consumer Goods
Product Stewardship – The Old Edition
The New Edition
Create Economic Incentives
Create economic
incentives for
manufacturers to
redesign products to make
them “greener.”
Closed Loop Lifecycle
The Closed Loop Lifecycle of Consumer Goods
Japanese Model
JAPANESE MODELMandated Responsibility
Manufacturers set front-end fees for end-of-life management
Retailers collect fees
Fees cover orphan & historic waste
Consumers return products to retailers or municipalities
Manufacturers compete to lower fees
Manufacturers and recyclers are financially linked
Old/New Editions
Local governments manage product end-of-life.
Rate payers and local government cover product end-of-life costs.
Manufacturers responsible for product take-back.
Costs of product end-of-life are included in price.
Old/New Editions
No incentives to alter current design.
Continuing toxic legacy.
Incentives to redesign products to make them “greener.”
Upstream thinking.
PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP DISCUSSION
Discussion of product stewardship principles Financing issues – who pays Design driver opportunities
WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO
Locally managing electronics using product stewardship principles
The case against government-funded collection programs
Facilitating partnerships Helping organize events or activities Education Recycler’s pledges and environmental reviews of
vendors End-of-life or back-end fees Green purchasing and procurement specifications
Discussion of program options Considerations and opportunities specific
to Eastern Washington governments Leveraging existing programs and contacts
in other areas
OPEN FORUM
NEPSI dialogues 2002 California legislation & Governor’s veto Potential 2003 legislation in Washington NWPSC – key issues Legislations in other states NGO model legislation
STATE AND NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Questions about state and national activities
Participant perspectives on state legislation
Closing comments
OPEN FORUM
Funding Mechanisms• General Tax Base/Garbage Fees
• End-of-Life Fees:
• Advanced Fee (visible)
• Advanced Fee (internalized)
Other Discussion Points• Cost-internalization
• Design incentives
Themes• Where do funds originate? Rate payer vs. consumer
Retailer vs. manufacturer
• What do funds cover? Collection, transportation,
recycling
Base level of service/collection
Orphan & historic waste
• Where does the money go?
• Are manufacturers individually or collectively responsible via TPO?
FINANCE ISSUES
RETAILER ISSUES
Considerations• Latecomers to dialogue
• Not expert on regulations
• Not attuned to environmental ethics and product stewardship
Opportunities• Consumer location of choice for
recycling
• Front-line contact with consumers on product stewardship
• Clout with manufacturers
• Already deal with electronic waste
• Existing relationships with haulers, not recyclers
• Resistant to visible recycling fee at point-of-sale
BarriersSmall Retailers
• Lack of space
• Lack of clout with recyclers
• Can’t absorb dumping costs
Large Retailers
• Marketing controlled by corporate
• Focus on high-volume sales
• Not set up to handle e-waste
• Not set up to handle trade-in programs
AdvantagesSmall Retailers
• More likely to accept trade-ins
• Repair/re-market used goods
• Localized marketing/promotions
• Direct commitment from owners
Large Retailers
• Large advertising budgets
• Clout with manufacturers
• Foot traffic and in-store ads
• Recycling as customer service
• Can track recycling programs
• Pickup/recycling option with product delivery
RETAILER ISSUES
Considerations• Only manufacturers can provide
green design, and pre-paid recycling fees.
• Current programs are unwieldy mail-back versions.
• Manufacturers like government solutions.
• Profit motive is preeminent.
Opportunities• Early involvement in product
stewardship dialogue.
• Understand product stewardship concepts.
• Familiarity with regulations.
• Relationships with retailers and corporate customers.
• Today’s electronics designed to be cheap & disposable
• Manufacturers still recommend donation as a solution.
MANUFACTURER ISSUES
Barriers• Design for the environment is not
cheap.
• Narrow profit margins
• Don’t want to fund legacy piles
• Want to keep product stewardship costs low via gov’t involvement.
• Don’t want to pay for collection or transportation of e-waste
• Don’t want to set precedents that will affect other consumer electronics.
Advantages• Can work with retailers on co-op
advertising and promotions.
• Heighten positive public image.
• Public/private partnerships.
• Design for the environment to lower recycling & materials costs.
• Support product stewardship now to avoid future legislation.
MANUFACTURER ISSUES
Considerations• Expense has discouraged
investment in e-waste recycling without ample volume.
• Recyclers don’t necessarily promote product stewardship.
• Recyclers should be audited and certified.
• Need viable business plan to ensure profitability.
Opportunities• Recycler interest has peaked
with new regulation and legislation.
• Have already participated in some e-waste pilot programs.
RECYCLER ISSUES
Barriers• Legislation/regulation not universal
• Speculative, risky endeavor
• High start-up costs
• Haz-waste regulation compliance
• High transportation costs
• Need to invest in new equipment as technology changes
• Little recycling input in design decisions made by manufacturers
• Disassembly “schematic” not easily attainable from manufacturers
Advantages• Growth industry driven by new
regulations and legislation
• Pre-paid fees will guarantee revenues
• Potential contracts with large retailers and corporate customers
• Government incentives
• Synergy with waste hauling interests and customer bases
• Potential for future clout to drive electronics design decisions
RECYCLER ISSUES
RECYCLING PROGRAMS
• Charitable Donation Charities
Schools
Senior Citizen or Low-Income
• Transfer Stations & Landfills Arlington Transfer Station
• Manufacturer Mail-Back Dell, Gateway, IBM, HP
• Retail Trade-In CompUSA, Staples
• Special Recycling Events Best Buy, Minnesota “Plug Into
Recycling,” Tacoma/Pierce County electronics recycling events
• Reuse & Recycling Networks Computer Recovery Project, Take It
Back Network
• Retail Collection RE-PC
• Collection Boxes at Retail Green Disk, RBRC, Verizon & AT&T
Hazardous chemical for disposale.g. Pesticide, solvent, toxic metal, CRT
From BusinessInstitution
LARGE QUANTITY GENERATOR =
More than 220 lb./mo. or per batch(approx. 7 CRTs)
Requires special disposal
as Dangerous WasteMonitors conditionally exempt If
legitimately recycled (Interim Policy)
From Household
SMALL QUANTITY GENERATOR
Less than 220 lb./mo. or per batch
May bedisposed in Municipal
Solid Waste……UNLESS local rules prohibit
Disposal of SQGW or HHW
REGULATING E-WASTE