NCER Data & Analysis Of Electronics Recycling Programs IAER Summit ● May 9, 2007 Heather Smith NCER Project & Communications Manager

About Us ► Non-profit 501c3 based in Parkersburg, WV ► Part of the MARCEE Project, an economic development project focused on end-of-life electronics ► Manage a WV Electronics Recycling Program Our Mission: We are dedicated to the development and enhancement of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used electronics in the U.S.

What We’ll Cover: ► Online Data Sharing Projects The NCER’s Centralized Data Repository The NCER’s Brand Data Management System ► The NCER’s Per Capita Index ► State Electronics Recycling Program Data Overview

What is it? The Centralized Data Repository (or CDR) is an online data sharing project that houses e-waste collection statistics provided by various collection programs across the United States. ► ► Addresses need for central clearinghouse on the collection and recycling of electronic waste ► In particular, it highlights pounds and units collected across many different U.S. programs ►Allows you to view some data in report format The CDR

► Waste per Participant ► Units Collected by Product Type ► Total Participation by State ► Average Transportation Cost per Mile ► Other reports are also available but are subject to the availability of data. Available CDR Reports

►51 Programs Are Currently Listed In The Repository ►335,153,127 Total Pounds Have Been Recorded From Private Recyclers, Municipal and County Collection Programs, Non-profit Collectors and State-Mandated Programs since 2002 More Data is Needed! A Quick Look At The Repository

Top 10 Programs Listed In CDR By Overall Lbs. Collected 1.California Integrated Waste Mgmt. Board - CA (189 million lbs) 2.Massachusetts CRT Collection Program - MA (22.4 million lbs) 3.Hennepin County Consumer Electronics Program - MN (18.7 million lbs) 4.Maryland E-Cycling Program – MD (15.8 million lbs) 5.HP - Office Depot Nationwide Collection Program - CA (10.2 million lbs) 6.Delaware Solid Waste Authority - DE (5.4 million lbs) 7.Maine Department of Environmental Protection - ME (3.8 million lbs) 8.Association of Minnesota Counties - MN (3.1 million lbs) 9.RET3 Job Corp, Inc. - OH (2.3 million lbs) 10.Somerset County Recycling - NJ (2 million lbs) The top 10 programs account for 80% of the overall data included in the CDR.

All states show representation except: Oregon Idaho Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona North Dakota Kansas Oklahoma Iowa Wisconsin Kentucky Tennessee Louisiana Mississippi Alabama South Carolina Maine New Hampshire Delaware Alaska Hawaii Slightly more than 1/2 of the states have collection data recorded in the CDR Slightly more than 1/2 of the states have collection data recorded in the CDR States highlighted in GOLD have data, those in white DO NOT States not represented… due to lack of collection programs?

►Visit ►Sign up for an account ►Have your data ready ►Critical data: collection location(s) and date(s) lbs/units collected product scope and costs Have Data To Submit or Know Someone Who Does? We’re Interested!

What are the Benefits of Sharing Your Data? ► Local Gov’ts & Private Collectors: Help evaluate your options for establishing used electronics collection programs, learn from colleagues, and measure your program’s success. ► Recyclers: Your company can gain national visibility, evaluate potential business opportunities, and contribute to the development of the electronics recycling industry as a whole. ► Stakeholders Interested in Electronics Recycling Policy: Effective policies must be based on reliable data.

How Will The Data Be Used? ► It will be used to gauge the progress, identify gaps, and measure the overall effectiveness of electronics collection programs, cell phone collection programs, and ongoing recycler data. ► Anyone can decide how the data will be used. It can be used to review your options for electronics recycling programs, evaluate costs for similar communities across the US, and evaluate lessons learned from others.

Is The CDR Site User-Friendly? Previous feedback from users as well as our own internal testing led us to discover some elements of the site in need of addressing. ►Visual/navigational improvements will make data entering easier! ►Now have a more user-friendly log-in and password recovery ►New system allows recycler data & cell phone data ►Separates state-mandated programs for easier tracking ►Site still under construction and will go live by end of May ‘07 ►Your comments are welcome!

More About the NCER’s Online Data Sharing Projects!

The BDMS What is it? The Brand Data Management System is an online data sharing project of brand return shares and state-mandated program data. ► Currently houses 1,487 brands across various product categories (monitors, TVs, desktops, laptops, portable DVD) ► Approx. 30 of these brands have a return share of 1% or more by total weight across product categories ► Shows brands and their common misspellings ► Shows brand quantities returned by unit/weight across various locations ► Shows brand registration data for many manufacturers across state-mandated programs. ► Go to:

BDMS Reports BDMS has several reporting options: ► Compare brand “return share” across all studies by product type (i.e., monitors) OR across all product types ► Determine an average “return share” for each brand across all studies and product types ► Determine each brand’s “registration” or “claim” status in each state program using return share for billing purposes ► Determine manufacturer “return share” by combining claimed/registered brands

► Definitions vary – usually a brand or manufacturer’s portion of the collected “covered” electronic devices ► Determined by two methods: Count and record every unit returned ( as in the ME approach) Take a statistically valid sample (as in the WA approach) ► Return share data in the BDMS is based on actual counts from both pilots and Maine’s state program. ► Important because it determines how much each manufacturer pays for recycling system costs in ME and WA. What is Return Share?

SAMPLESAMPLESAMPLESAMPLE REPORTREPORTREPORTREPORT This report shows that RCA has a total return share of 6.62%

What Other Data Projects Are On The Horizon AT The NCER?

NCER Per Capita Collection Index What is it? It is an index that measures changes in the amount of used electronic equipment collected in ongoing electronics recycling programs. It will be calculated on an annual basis and will track changes/trends over time. Ex. A rising per capita index would indicate an increase in the collection of e-waste across the programs included in the index.

NCER Per Capita Collection Index The index will be updated annually to show changes in collection amounts ► Annual pounds collected per capita will be rounded to one decimal place (e.g., 3.7 lbs./capita) ► Per capita values will not be adjusted for variations in product scope accepted or in quantity of household vs. business ► Tracking changes over time more important than an absolute value We have based the Per Capita Collection Index on data from 6 programs (chosen based on history and geographic locations): ► 3 statewide programs (CA, ME, DE) ► 1 large population local programs (Hennepin County, MN) ► 2 small population local programs (Branford, CT & Frederick County, VA)

2006 NCER Per Capita Collection Index Index formula: I PC = [P 1 +P 2 +P 3 +P 4 +P 5 +P 6 ] 6 I PC is the NCER Per Capita Collection Index P1=the per capita amt for California (3.5 lbs./capita) P2=the per capita amt for Maine (3.1 lbs./capita) P3=the per capita amt for Delaware (3.3 lbs./capita) P4=the per capita amt for Hennepin County, MN (4.0 lbs./capita) P5=the per capita amt for Branford, CT (4.8 lbs./capita) P6=the per capita amt for Frederick County, VA (3.5 lbs./capita) The NCER 2006 Collection Index is 3.7 lbs./capita

Are We Monitoring Data Associated With The Mandatory State Programs?

YES! National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse

A Quick Update From California ► 20,000 retailers are registered for fee collection ► 90% of the fees come from the largest 300 retailers ► 2005: 1.79 lbs/capita was collected and recycled ► 2006: 3.5 lbs/capita was collected and recycled 191% growth from ‘05 ► Total gov’t admin. costs through 6/30/06: $11.6 million ► There are currently 529 approved collectors & 55 approved recyclers

A Quick Update From Maine ► They have identified 160 manufacturers claiming 350 brands ► In 2006, they collected 3.85 million lbs. 46,987 TV units = 2.75 million lbs. 33,248 monitor units = 1.10 million lbs % of the total weight collected were TVs 28.6% of the total weight collected were monitors Orphans made up 5% of the total weight collected 3.06 lbs/capita (annualized for 1/18/06 start date)

A Quick Update From Maryland ► In 2006, 50 Companies were registered ► In 2007, 31 companies have registered (1/1 deadline!) ► Product Scope: Desktops & Monitors only. Bill awaiting governor’s signature would add televisions. ► Funds collected the first year were used to promote a statewide outreach and education campaign informing the public of e-cycling ► In 2006, 6.3 million pounds of e-scrap were collected through municipal and county efforts. 3.4 million pounds were collected in ► Currently at a 1.12 lbs/capita collection rate

A Quick Update From Washington ► Registration and payment of fee was required by 1/5/07 in order for manufacturers to sell products in the state ► Fees are based on each manufacturer’s market share: they range from $0 - $48,900 ► So far, 125 manufacturers have registered 173 total brands ► Pounds collected per capita won’t be available until 2010 after the program starts in 2009

Conclusion ► All these data elements form pieces needed for a national infrastructure How much is being collected? Which brands come back in what quantities, and who claims them? How many orphans are there? How much does a mandated program cost and how much does it collect? ► Are there other key questions? LET US KNOW! We’ll find a way to look for answers!

THANK YOU! Heather Smith, NCER Phone: (304) Visit us on the web: and QUESTIONS?