Recycling E-Waste

Hi Nancy,

In Kansas City we have a wonderful organization called the Surplus Exchange (www.surplusexchange.org ) that recycles office equipment, furniture and e-waste. They even have a program for youth, teaching them how to make a computer, and a lot of the computers that are donated to Surplus Exchange are updated through this program instead of recycled. Surplus Exchange monitors where e-waste goes, and makes sure that none of it leaves the country. They also have an agreement with the organization in town that manages our drop-off recycling centers allowing people to bring computers for Surplus Exchange to a more convenient location. Your computer sounds too old to be updated. Until you have an organization in your area doing responsible e-waste disposal, the best thing to do with that old computer is exactly what you are doing - keep it in storage. Computers that are only a few years old are often accepted as donations at nonprofits, for their own use, or passed on to low-income individuals. Just make sure the nonprofit knows about the problems with e-waste, and informs the recipients as well.

Kate

Hi Nancy and all,

What do people recommend doing with outdated electronics that would not impose problems on people or the environment in Third World countries or wherever this stuff is being sent for recycling? I'm hoping your compatriots can provide a local solution for you, as the options will differ from one community to another...

This site lists a range of recyclers and reprocessors:
www.electronicsrecycling.org

Never assume the disposal method will be environmentally or socially responsible - its important to ask questions! See the following for guidance:

www.federalelectronicschallenge.net/resources/docs/select.pdf - Federal Electronics Challenge: Checklist for the Selection of Electronic Recycling Services

All I would say is that it is imperative that end of life material be processed in the US in appropriate, ethical ways and not exported (this is now also an interesting question under Basel, which addresses issues at the national level - is China now classed as a developing or a developed country? What if there are high standard, environmentally responsible recycling options for batteries etc in countries defined as non OECD under Basel?). Why not send this material to developing countries, even if it is legal to do so? See the following sites for further info, if you are not already aware of the issues:

Basel Action Network
www.ban.org/BANreports/10-24-05/index.htm www.ban.org/E-waste/technotrashfinalcomp.pdf

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
www.svtc.org

There are some arguments for making working equipment available to communities in developing countries (assuming a reliable electricity supply; basic parts and repair/services), however this equipment will one day reach the end of its useful life. If developed countries are still struggling to effectively manage e-waste in an environmentally responsible manner, how can we expect developing countries to manage this toxic legacy?

Cheers,
Sharon 

further to this topic (I reiterate, anyone can accept e-waste, but still important to ensure the disposal method will be environmentally/socially responsible - ask the questions!)

Sharon

www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36244
Retailers Aim to Make Recycling Easy for Customers
Source: GreenBiz.com
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 13, 2007 --

Fewer than 25 percent of Americans recycle old, broken or unused electronics, according to a recent survey. If you're part of the majority who don't recycle electronics, these companies have new programs to make recycling easier. Staples, which conducted the survey, accepts many items, charging a $10 fee per large item. Smaller items are taken for free. Until Nov. 17, customers who buy any Dell desktop, notebook, printer or monitor at stores in the United States can recycle one piece of old office technology per Dell item purchased for free. Visit Staples' website for more on its recycling programs. Office Depot has unveiled its revamped consumer recycling program, offering three sizes of Tech Recycling Boxes (priced at $5, $10 and $15). Customers can buy the boxes, throw in electronics and drop the boxes back off at Office Depot stores. From Nov. 15-17 the company will give the medium-size boxes away for free with purchases of $100. Visit the Tech Recycling Boxes website for a list of accepted items and more. Costco has launched an online recycling and trade-in service, letting members profit from recycling. Costco members can ship their used electronics for free to GreenSight Technologies in Florida, and receive a Costco cash card for items with trade-in value. Visit the trade-in site to see the worth of items and to print shipping labels. The Staples survey found out that not only do fewer than one in four Americans recycle electronics, but 41 percent throw the items away or don't dispose of them at all. The Staples Recycling Survey was conducted by Kelton Research, which polled 1,000 American adults via an online survey in October 2007. The overall margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

further to this topic (I reiterate, anyone can accept e-waste, but still important to ensure the disposal method will be environmentally/socially responsible - ask the questions!)

Sharon

www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36244
Retailers Aim to Make Recycling Easy for Customers
Source: GreenBiz.com
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 13, 2007 --

Fewer than 25 percent of Americans recycle old, broken or unused electronics, according to a recent survey. If you're part of the majority who don't recycle electronics, these companies have new programs to make recycling easier. Staples, which conducted the survey, accepts many items, charging a $10 fee per large item. Smaller items are taken for free. Until Nov. 17, customers who buy any Dell desktop, notebook, printer or monitor at stores in the United States can recycle one piece of old office technology per Dell item purchased for free. Visit Staples' website

There are numerous approaches being taken. There is a group that is trying to pass more legislation and make manufacturers take a pledge to recycle responsibly - see http://www.computertakeback.com/

In Illinois, several Counties have collection programs, we have a permanent drop-off program at four locations to serve our nearly 700,000 residents and we hope to add more drop-offs. Please see pages 18-20 for all the electronic recycling opportunities present to residents http://www.willcountylanduse.com/WasteServ/Residential%20Guide_101907.pdf

The components in your computer are valuable resources that need to get back into the world, instead of taking up space in your basement - just choose a recycling option you feel is reliable.

Marta Keane,

Recycling Program Specialist
Will County Land Use - Waste Services
58 E. Clinton Street, Suite 500
Joliet, IL 60432
815-774-4343
[email protected]

The Government of Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Environment and Labour Department NSEL) are launching a new e-waste program February 2008. Check out the following link that has information on the program.

www.rrfb.com

In Alberta, Canada, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority manages our electronics recycling program for the whole province. It is a not-for-profit, but reports to the Ministry of Environment. You can learn more at http://www.albertarecycling.ca/

Heather Wheeliker

Heather Wheeliker
Coordinator, Waste Education
Alberta Environment Education & Outreach Section
Tel: (780) 427 - 5452
Fax: (780) 422 - 4086
e-mail: [email protected]
Mailing address: Main Floor, Oxbridge Place
9820 - 106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6
www.environment.gov.ab.ca

Of those e-waste recycling programs operating around the world, what is happening with the considerable plastic material contained in obsolete electronic devices? Are there any programs out there that actually convert the plastics to something useful, in an environmentally benign process? Here in British Columbia, Canada, our provincial government recently implemented e-waste recycling. However, as I understand, metals are really the main category of the waste stream that is actually "recycled" in any life-extending way. At a recent meeting with the Province, it was acknowledged that non-metallic e-waste components are typically shredded and incinerated. Hopefully, this is being done with optimal capture of toxins and energy recovery. Bear in mind that, pound for pound, many plastics contain more energy than diesel fuel. As oil and gas prices rise beyond our reach (oil today heading for $100/bbl), people will certainly attempt to recapture this energy by burning plastics, regardless of the impact. And indeed, the conversion of plastic waste to energy through incineration is now raising concerns across Canada about the potential release of toxins to the atmosphere. The state of the art in waste-to-energy conversion apparently comes from Ottawa-based, Plasco Energy. They claim that a tonne of waste equals two months of household power. Plasco also claims that in its high-tech facility, burning one tonne of household waste generates by-products in the amount of 150 KGs of slag and 1.3 KGs of heavy metals (See "Garbage Power" in Canadian Business 5 NOV '07). If these are the figures for burning household garbage in the best facility in Canada, then what is being emitted from typical facilities around the world that are burning our shredded e-waste? Also interesting, here in Canada, e-waste is not considered "hazardous waste", unless it becomes broken (or shredded). Does anyone have a sense of how e-waste is actually being processed around the world?

Cheers,
Neil 

Here's a good nuts-and-bolts article about e-cycling from Minnesota Public Radio.

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200204/08_hemphills_ewaste-m/ index.shtml

This was from 2002. I know the reporter (Stephanie Hemphill)-I'll ask her if she has done any follow-up on what is currently in place.

Also, the US has a waste-to-energy consortium that looks pretty committed at http://www.wte.org/environment/greenhouse_gas.html . They say: In addition to the analysis using EPA's Decision Support Tool, a detailed, project analysis of a facility's contribution to solving the threat of global warming has been completed for a 1500-ton-per-day waste-to-energy facility in the Saugus, Massachusetts. Researchers used information regarding alternative landfill disposal, plant emissions, trash composition and other plant-specific data and analyzed the information using the EPA Decision Support Tool. The study determined that about 270,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions are avoided annually because of this one plant's operations.

Best,
Sally 

Dear Sally, et al. ...

The link below from the waste industry association indeed, makes a valid point in suggesting that waste-to-energy (WTE), can, have a positive impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But lets not be under any illusions, while some WTE facilities may be relatively clean and efficient, they are still burning carbon based-fuel, primarily plastics in terms of electronic waste. The irony is that this now out of date public radio article begins by saying that old computers should not be incinerated! In fact, that appears to be the dominant process that e-waste programs are now in 2007 employing to get rid of the large part of electronic wastes. As for GHG emissions, however, they may be the least of our worries when we start burning our old computers. Burning old electronics can generate a significant emission of dioxins and heavy metals into the atmosphere if not handled responsibly. As yet, there is not much awareness that this burning is even going on, none the less any wide-scale pressure for the WTE industry to abide by safe standards. And furthermore, the insatiable desire for energy in India and China is driving a big business in shipping in-tact, albeit obsolete electronics to Asia where they are shredded and burned in questionable facilities. Indeed, the copper. lead and other valuable metals are being collected and reused. But the question I raised last week remains, does anyone have evidence that any of these e-waste 'recycling' programs are not just burning the bulk of our old e-goods? The future of our energy and pollution predicament requires that we get of this e-waste conveyor belt as soon as possible and find ways to reduce the e-waste altogether. The challenge is to produce electronic appliances that can be practically upgraded as needed, and not discarded.

Cheers,
Neil. 

Hi Nancy In USA I know about a company Electronic Recyclers International which handle all E-waste, whether it is a glass or metals or plastic.They recycle it and make them for further use

Nornam Stokes
United States

e-Stewards is the gold standard for 3rd party certification. They focus on restricting hazardous materials exports to developing nations; and require safe and sustainable management practices including no burn or bury, and no child or prison labor.

e-Steward's website shows 8 certified facilities in Minnesota http://e-stewards.org/

john davis
mojave desert and mountain recycling authority
United States
www.urecycle.org