ELECTRONICS PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

MODEL STATE LEGISLATION

ADDENDUM

Model A: Performance Goals

March 26, 2003

1. Weight-Based Recovery Goals

The recovery goals are stated at 2 pounds per capita within four years from the effective date of the legislation. This goal is considered an achievable goal based upon an average 1.9 pounds per capita achieved in recent collections across the United States that had been in operation for three years or less (Northeast Recycling Council, 2002). The goal is less than the 2.267 pounds per capita achieved by Hennepin County, Minnesota in 2001, since this program has been operating for ten years and accepts electronics other than computers and television. Massachusetts, a state than bans CRTs from municipal waste systems, recovers between 1.25 and 2 pounds per person in its various collection programs.

In addition to the poundage achieved by current electronics collection programs, the recovery goal also considers that computer and television sales are increasing at a rapid rate. According to a government study, computer ownership rose from 42.1% to 51.0% of households between December 1998 and August 2000 (U.S. Department of Commerce). The National Safety Council estimates an increase in the number of computers that become obsolete in the U.S. from over 20 million in 1998, to over 61 million in 2007.

The following sources provide a basis for the recovery goal:

A.A survey of 176 electronics collection programs from around the U.S. conducted by the Northeast Recycling Council in 2002, found that programs collected an average of 1.9 pounds per capita, and that 91% of the programs had been operating three years or less.Most of the collections accepted computer monitors, hardware peripherals and televisions.The study included special events, ongoing and curbside collections; and included collections serving residents, as well as some serving small businesses, and municipal offices/schools. Setting Up & Operating Electronics Recycling/Reuse Programs: A Manual for Municipalities & Counties, April 2002. Available on the web at Hard copies are available through EPA New England ().

B.Hennepin County Consumer Electronics Program annual report, 2002, available from Amy Roering (612) 348-8992, or . Hennepin County, Minnesota, has been collecting electronics since 1992 at permanent drop-off facilities, collection events, and curbside collection. In 2001, over 68% (by number of units collected) was comprised of computer monitors, CPUs, keyboards, televisions and printers. The rest consisted of stereos, telephones, VCRs, camcorders and rechargeable electronics, and other (mostly light weight) miscellaneous items. The total number of tons collected in 2001 was 1,252 from a population of 1.1 million people. By converting tons to pounds and dividing by population, the result is 2.276 pounds per person. Minnesota does not restrict electronics from household sources from municipal solid waste systems.

C.Massachusetts banned CRTs from the municipal waste landfills and incinerators effective April 1, 2000. By 2001, the state held over 280 CRT collections. According to Greg Cooper, MA Dept. of Environmental Protection, the range of pounds per capita for their collections is between 1.25 and 2. For more information, Greg Cooper at 617-292-5988.

D.FALLING THROUGH THE NET: TOWARD DIGITAL INCLUSION, A Report on Americans' Access to Technology Tools, October 2000, is a study of computer and Internet usage, conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. According to this study, between December 1998 and August 2000, computer ownership jumped from 42.1% to 51.0% of households. The report is available on-line at:

E.The National Safety Council’s Environmental Health Center, Electronic Product Recovery and Recycling Baseline Report, estimates 20 million computers became obsolete in 1998. The NSCEHC based this number on the number of units shipped by manufacturers in 1992, and does not consider how many units might be in storage. Using similar methodology, the report estimates that in 2004 over 60 million computers will become obsolete, and 61.3 million units in 2007. Copies of this study are available for a fee through the National Safety Council’s Environmental Health Center, 1025 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036, 202-293-2270.

2. Percentage-Based Recycling Goals for Electronic Products

The recycling goals are stated at 65% (by weight) of recovered materials within four years from the effective date of the legislation. This goal matches the recycling goal stated in the European WEEE Directive, and has been achievable by U.S. recyclers.

  1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures 2000 report EPA530-R-02-001. June 2002. This study developed average weights for consumer electronics by collecting information from catalogs and consumer electronics magazines and weighing available items. The information was then compared to information from retailers, repair shops, demanufacturers, recyclers, other organizations and government agencies to arrive at the estimates for composition of waste after retail sales, recovery for recycling, and discards. The study used estimated weights of electronics for the years 1984-1988 since these older electronics are presumed to be those entering the waste stream now. They estimated the following percentages by weight of components of electronics:

Type of Product / steel / copper/ brass / aluminum / lead / other
metals / glass / wood / plastic / other

Video*

/ 22% / 3% / 0% / 7% / 10% / 27% / 20% / 11% / 0%
Information ** / 27% / 5% / 4% / 3% / 4% / 8% / 0% / 46% / 2%

Average

/ 23% / 4% / 2% / 5% / 7% / 17.5% / 10% / 28.5% / 1%
* Video, in this study, included televisions (standard, projection, high density, LCD), VCRs, camcorders, laserdisc players, digital versatile disc players and TV/personal computers.
** Information, in this study, included telephones, wireless telephones, answering machines, facsimile (fax) machines, word processors, personal computers, computer printers, computer monitors, modems, and fax modems.
  1. Envirocycle, PO Box 899, Hallstead, PA 18822, (800) 711-6010. In conversations with Envirocycle on 11/25/02, the company spokesperson, Greg Voorhees, indicated that they recycle 98% of electronics in domestic markets. The 2% they cannot recycle consists mostly of scrap plastics and shrink-wrap.
  1. Asset Recovery, 150 State St., St. Paul, MN 55107, (651) 602-0789. In conversations with Asset Recovery on 11/25/02, spokesperson Ryan Laber said they recycle 85-90% of all materials from recovered electronics. He indicated that 15% of what they receive from businesses can be resold, but household electronics are usually used and stored for so long they have no reuse value. Asset Recovery handles a lot of household-type electronic waste from mixed collections. Good markets do not exist for the plastic housing and scrap plastic from these mixed collections. He said companies that recycle off spec or company wastes (where the plastic type is known) can recycle more efficiently than companies that receive mixed electronics of various plastic types. Even though they use mechanical scanners, it is still not possible to determine all types of plastic. The company is working with the MN Office of Environmental Assistance to develop domestic markets for these plastics. Ryan said they sell scrap materials to domestic sources in the U.S. and in Canada. The EPA and the State of MN have audited all their end-users.
  1. United Recycling, 1600 Harvester, West Chicago, IL 60185, (630) 231-6060. In conversations with United Recycling on 11/26/02, company spokesperson, Ann Hughes, said the company recycles 100% of electronics. They do not demanufacture electronics (though some disassembly might take place to prepare equipment), but shred the old equipment to 1” squares and use mechanical separators to sort out the metals for mechanical separators. CRTs are sent through a separate line and shredded, with glass going to a market that accepts the mixed types contained in CRTs. They used to separate the types of glass and send the leaded glass to a leaded glass manufacturer, but they don’t do this anymore (she didn’t know why). She said plastics are the biggest problem in terms of trying to find good markets. Metals have strong markets. Ann said there is high probability that some of the domestic scrap buyers sell to overseas markets.

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Product Stewardship Institute

Model A Addendum – State Electronics Legislation

March 26, 2003