Waste Expo 2010 E-Waste Developments in the U.S. by Jason Linnell

National Center for Electronics Recycling: Non-profit 501c3 Located in Parkersburg, WV Involved in Federal, State & Association Projects Conduct Research, Run Collection Programs Partner with NERC on Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse Manage Oregon State Contractor Program Our Mission: Dedicated to the development and enhancement of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used electronics in the U.S. About Us

21 states (+NYC) with some type of e-waste law o CA, CT, IL, IN, HI, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NYC, OK, OR, RI, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV o Almost 170 million US residents or 56% of US population covered by a law Disposal bans no program o NH, MA, (AR) Current “State” of States

Overview of States With Laws NYC States With Producer Responsibility Laws States With ARF (Consumer Fees) Laws States With Landfill Disposal Fee States With Disposal Ban/No E-Waste Law WV MD CT ME VA NC IL OK TX MO MN MI CA OR WA AR RI NH VT MA NJ IN WI

True “Patchwork” of approaches to common challenge How is the program funded? –1 Advanced Fee, 5 Types of Manufacturer Financing Which products are covered? –11 different sets of product lists Who can use the recycling system? –9 sets of “covered entities” Definitions, interpretations vary as well Highlights

o17 in effect as of 4/1/10 oFewer than half in effect for over 1 year oTrends: oMove towards market share responsibility TVs oMore examples of pounds-sold obligations for all manufacturers o“Laboratory” of ideas, approaches oOpinions of what works best, but very few data Overview of States

Pounds Per Capita Collected Across State Programs Minnesota Maryland1.45? Maine * California ** Oregon N/A 5.01 Washington N/A 5.88 Lbs/Capita 2008 Lbs/Capita 2009 State NCER 2010 Per Capita Collection Index = 7% = 8%

Address the Patchwork Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse – Forum for coordination and info exchange, joint decision-making Members –Voting: State/local government –Affiliate: industry, non-profits, state/local without legislation, trade associations –Founding: voting and affiliate members committing before today’s launch Modeled on Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse

Multiple ways to participate, some with winners/losers Get on state list, then start collecting or Get contract with manufacturer/group of manufacturers/“program” before collecting Limited number of customers? Pressure to limit collection volumes or incentive to collect? Producer responsibility and recyclers

Two ways to participate –Get on state list, then start collecting or –Get contract with manufacturer/group of manufacturers/“program” before collecting –Curbside collection or premium services rare Not guaranteed! Or at the price you want.. –Some states allow all, others see recyclers competing for your business –Local businesses can be left out PR and collectors

Other Issues Collector issues –Limit non-covered products and non-covered entities? –Haulers – curbside pickups covered/funded? System Leakage –Prices may be better on the “open market” Payment issues –Recyclers compete for contracts, but markets may change Qualification/Certification/Export –Handled differently at state level

The Good News … and Bad News on Certification Certification is on its way! –Weed out bad actors, finally an answer to “who should I work with?” But, 2 separate certifications to choose from: –Responsible Recycling Practices (“R2”) –Basel Action Network’s “E-Stewards” Very few certified yet! –Check Certifying Bodies!

Federal Activity Electronics recycling moving in Congress! –But, R&D bill not a nationwide program Passed House, in Senate committee; needs funding –Negotiations continue off an on with industry, but slow Upcoming GAO report –Recommendations on challenges presented by state laws –Careful review of impacted stakeholders

Thank You! Jason Linnell, NCER Phone: (304) Visit us on the web: and

Backup Slides

Desktops, Laptops (over 4 inch), TVs (over 4 inch), Monitors (over 4 inch) Laptops, TVs (over 9 inch), Monitors (over 9 inch) Desktops, Laptops, TVs (over 4 inch), Monitors (over 4 inch) TVs with exclusions (over 4 inch), Monitors (over 4 inch), Laptops (over 4 inch) TVs (over 4 inch), Monitors (over 4 inch), Laptops (over 4 inch) Desktops, laptops, computer monitors, printers, and TVs Desktops, laptops, computer monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, digital music players, and TVs *Product scope for MD and MN includes products triggering a manufacturer obligation to participate in the program. NYC Rhode Island Desktops, laptops, computer monitors over 9 inch and TVs over 9 inch Hawaii Product Scope By State

Adding Covered Entities Our Patchwork Quilt -Households -Small Business -Non-Profits -Any Entity w/ Fewer Than 7 Devices -Households -Small Gov’t -Small Business -School Districts -Charities Households Only Consumers Only (Who Use Computer Equipment for Home or Home Business Use) Any Entity Households & Schools Households Small Business with fewer than 7 employees -Households -Small Businesses -Public Schools -Households -Charities -School Districts -Businesses (Less than 10 Employees)

NYC RI RETURNS 1 - Manufacturers must develop and implement their own recycling programs for their own returned products (TX requires program to collect from consumers, NC requires program to collect from collectors). RETURNS + TV MARKET SHARE - IT Manufacturers pay for costs of their own branded products collected plus a pro rata share of orphan products. TV manufacturers pay based on their market share percentage of all TVs returned. ME CT NJ MD WV HI VA NC MI IL MO OK TX MN WA OR CA IN Types of Financing ARF - Electronic Waste Recycling Fee, assessed on the sale of covered electronic products FEE - Manufacturer Annual Registration Fees (can be significantly reduced by establishing an approved take-back program) SHARE - Manufacturers must finance a program to collect & recycle their brand’s share of covered products, either collectively or independently ( LBS. SOLD Manufacturer pays registration fee and for collection and recycling of covered electronic devices based on their yearly sales to households LBS. SOLD SHARE Manufacturers are a assigned a market share percentage based on total weight sold into the state. A separate per capita goal is used for collection targets. VT

StateIn Effect?Date CAYes1/1/2005 HINo1/1/2010 ILNo1/1/2010 INYes4/1/2010 MEYes1/18/2006 MDYes1/1/2006 MIYes4/1/2010 MNYes7/1/2007 MOYes7/1/2009 OKYes1/1/2009 ORYes1/1/2009 RIYes2/1/2009 TXYes9/1/2008 VAYes7/1/2009 VTNo7/1/2011 WAYes1/1/2009 WIYes1/1/2010 WVYes1/1/ In Effect Above, 4 Pending Below CTNo*7/1/2009 – likely September 2010 NJNo7/1/2010 NCNo7/1/2010 NYCNo??– delayed

Current Metrics Most Recent Per Capita Rates