Washington State recently passed legislation requiring manufacturers to develop recycling plans/programs for electronic waste. At this time the law only covers computers (desktops, laptops, monitors, portable computers) and televisions. As part of the law, the Dept. of Ecology, in conjunction with manufacturers, retailers, government agencies and other stakeholders, is required to develop a public information campaign to promote the program and encourage participation by consumers, small businesses, school districts, charities, and small government entities. I have perused the website, which has lots of information about general recycling - but we are looking specifically at electronic waste. We are looking for information/research people have done regarding:
1. What types of messages compel consumers to participate specifically in electronic waste recycling programs? (it's the law, do the right thing, gloom and doom hazardous waste images etc.?)
2. Has anyone developed a logo to create an identity and "brand" a recycling program for a specific commodity - i.e. electronic waste?
Thanks in advance. :-)
Megan Warfield
Litter Programs Coordinator
Dept. of Ecology
(360) 407-6963
[email protected]
Seeking Electronic Waste Recycling Info
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Please refer to this link for information on Byteback http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1600-byteback.asp?intSiteI D=4
Jon Ward
General Manager-
Business, Innovation & Technology
Sustainability Victoria
T: 03 86268818
F: 03 96631007
mob: 0408377731
Urban Workshop
28/ 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
Megan,
Our research firm, Gomez Research, is currently working on a project with Ogilvy Public Relations on an electronic waste public relations campaign for California. The project has just started, so we haven't collected data yet; however, we did some research during the proposal process that might be helpful. There is a 2004 study by Jean-Daniel Saphores called "Household Willingness to recycle Electronic Waste: An Application to California." Most people are not aware of how to properly recycle or dispose of their e-waste, and because of this researchers estimate that nearly 75 percent of old electronics are in storage (stockpiled). Key findings from the study include: * Middle-aged adults (36 to 65) seem more willing to take e-waste to drop-off recycling centers * Women are more willing to take e-waste to drop-off recycling centers. * Important predictors of the willingness to recycle e-waste include age, gender, a college education, and the availability of curbside collection programs for conventional recyclables, the distance to the nearest drop-off recycling centers for e-waste, living in a rural community. * Proximity to recycling centers is important and if public funds are limited, recycling centers should first be established in communities that offer curbside collection of conventional household recyclables. * Individuals with recycling experience are more willing to properly dispose/recycle other materials, such as e-waste * Democrats exhibit a stronger willingness to recycle e-waste Ogilvy is targeting early adapters: namely, people between 35 and 65, particularly women, and those already familiar with recycling. We will be conducting an assessment survey after the first wave of the project is completed, probably January 200, to see how effective the approach has been. I'd be happy to send you information on what we find and/or put you in touch with the public relations team that is working on the project.
Good luck.
Sophia
Sophia Gomez
Principal Gomez
Research
2206 Monte Vista St.
Pasadena, California 91107
626-795-4880
The Indiana Recycling Coalition did a major electronics recycling outreach effort after a number of meetings with stakeholders to build a common knowledge base and form recommendations for Indiana's e-waste management strategies. A major part of the campaign was developing a logo and tagline to brand the concept; although it wasn't a social marketing campaign, it has caught a lot of attention in the state. The website is www.eScrapIndiana.org ; for more information, you can contact IRC's Executive Director Michelle Cohen at [email protected].
Kristin Brier
Source Reduction and Recycling Branch
Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
800-988-7901 or 317-234-2754
[email protected]
E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.
With the passage of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, certain portions of the electronic waste stream are defined and the systems to recover and recycle them will be administratively regulated beyond the universal waste rules that apply to material handling.
Nornam Stokes
United States
Megan
I don't have the information that you need, but here in Australia, we have a not-for-profit organisation that may have some of the answers you need. It's http://www.greenpc.com.au/about.shtml, and they recycle computer equipment and sell it at very low cost to low-income earners. They also train people with low-skills and a history of unemployment to do the refurbishment, giving them increased skill levels. I'm sure they'd be able to share some of their research/insights with you.
Amanda