Electronics Recycling for Municipalities NC Solid Waste Enforcement Officers Association 2015 Conference, Wrightsville Beach NC Megan Tabb. Synergy Recycling, LLC

Hi! I’m Megan.

What are we talking about? Who is Synergy Recycling? Who is Synergy Recycling? How is e-Scrap processed? How is e-Scrap processed? e-Scrap in the U.S. e-Scrap in the U.S. e-Scrap in North Carolina e-Scrap in North Carolina Cost associated with TV recycling Cost associated with TV recycling Hazards in electronics recycling Hazards in electronics recycling Improper recycling cases Improper recycling cases Choosing your vendor Choosing your vendor

Synergy Recycling, LLC  2000: Company was founded in Mayodan, NC  2009: Company moved to Madison, NC  Services a geographical area that covers Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Tennessee and West Virginia

Synergy’s Processing Facility

What do we do?

How is e-Scrap processed?

Manual disassembly Manual disassembly Automatic disassembly Automatic disassembly Smelters Smelters Refineries Refineries Mills Mills

e-Scrap in the United States

e-Scrap in the U.S. Electronic Waste ~ 2% of the country’s waste stream Electronic Waste ~ 2% of the country’s waste stream Growing 2-3 times faster than any other waste stream Growing 2-3 times faster than any other waste stream

e-Scrap in the U.S. It is estimated that 9 billion lbs of CRT’s are still in use or sitting for disposal in American homes It is estimated that 9 billion lbs of CRT’s are still in use or sitting for disposal in American homes

e-Scrap in the U.S. In 2013, the United States generated 3,420,000 tons of e-waste In 2013, the United States generated 3,420,000 tons of e-waste Of that, only 29.20% was recycled Of that, only 29.20% was recycled

e-Scrap in the U.S. In 2013, nearly 500 million electronic devices were sold in the United States In 2013, nearly 500 million electronic devices were sold in the United States As household electronics are replaced, the question arises… “What do I do with the old one?” As household electronics are replaced, the question arises… “What do I do with the old one?”

e-Scrap in North Carolina

N.C General Statutes 130A through 130A N.C General Statutes 130A through 130A Bans TV’s, computers, monitors, printers, scanners and computer peripherals from landfill disposal Bans TV’s, computers, monitors, printers, scanners and computer peripherals from landfill disposal N.C General Statues 130A N.C General Statues 130A Requires collectors and processors of electronic scrap to register with NC DENR Requires collectors and processors of electronic scrap to register with NC DENR

e-Scrap in North Carolina State Electronics Recycling Service Contract 936C State Electronics Recycling Service Contract 936C All of the four original Tier A vendors have withdrawn All of the four original Tier A vendors have withdrawn Most vendors are still servicing local governments Most vendors are still servicing local governments State plans to rebid State plans to rebid 92% of state was covered by an approved program during FY % of state was covered by an approved program during FY 2015

Why Recycle e-Scrap?

Why recycle e-Scrap?  Hazardous material exists in some electronic devices  Lead  Mercury  Cadmium  Beryllium  Hexavalent Chromium

Why recycle e-Scrap?  Electronics contain many commodities that are in demand to manufacture new products  Steel  Copper  Aluminum  Gold  Silver  Plastic

Why recycle e-Scrap?  Save space in our landfills

What can be recycled? Desktop Computers Desktop Computers Laptops Laptops Monitors Monitors Televisions Televisions Speakers (non wooden) Speakers (non wooden) Keyboards Keyboards Mice Mice VCR’s VCR’s DVD Players DVD Players Remote Controls Remote Controls Cell Phones Cell Phones Home Phones Home Phones Etc Etc

Why is there a charge to recycle TV’s?

Older TVs, CRT Older TVs, CRT “CRT” stands for Cathode Ray Tube “CRT” stands for Cathode Ray Tube A cathode ray tube contains 3-4 lbs of lead and is very expensive to process responsibly A cathode ray tube contains 3-4 lbs of lead and is very expensive to process responsibly Newer TV’s, LCD and Plasma Newer TV’s, LCD and Plasma LCD and Plasma TV’s contain mercury bulbs which are also very expensive to handle LCD and Plasma TV’s contain mercury bulbs which are also very expensive to handle

Composition of a CRT TV

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

HIPS Plastic High Impact Polystyrene

Copper Yoke

Module Board

Degaussing Wire

Misc Wire

Why is there a charge to recycle TV’s? Overall value determined by individual item value and percent composition Overall value determined by individual item value and percent composition Here are some examples: Here are some examples:

Teardown Analysis: CRT Television, non wooden console Total TVs50 Total Weight3890 Avg TV Weight77.8 Commodities Total Weight (lbs) Weight per TV Percentage of Weight Price Per Pound Total Per TV Copper Yokes % $0.49$0.69 Degaussing Wire % $1.12$0.54 Misc Wire % $0.48$0.17 Module Boards % $0.20$1.08 HIPS % $0.11$0.97 CRT Glass % -$0.13-$7.98 Total Per TV-$4.53 Total Per Lb-$0.06 Processing Cost-$0.22 Overall Cost-$0.28

Teardown Analysis: CRT Television, non wooden console Example: All Copper Removed Total TVs50 Total Weight3507 Avg TV Weight70.14 Commodities Total Weight (lbs) Weight per TV Percentage of Weight Price Per Pound Total Per TV Copper Yokes000.00% $0.49$0.00 Degaussing Wire000.00% $1.12$0.00 Misc Wire000.00% $0.48$0.00 Module Boards000.00% $0.20$0.00 HIPS % $0.11$0.97 CRT Glass % -$0.13-$7.98 Total Per TV-$7.01 Total Per Lb-$0.10 Processing Cost-$0.22 Overall Cost-$0.32

Teardown Analysis: CRT Television, non wooden console Example: Power Cord Removed Total TVs50 Total Weight3872 Avg TV Weight77.8 Commodities Total Weight (lbs) Weight per TV Percentage of Weight Price Per Pound Total Per TV Copper Yokes % $0.49$0.69 Degaussing Wire % $1.12$0.54 Misc Wire000.00% $0.48$0.00 Module Boards % $0.20$1.08 HIPS % $0.11$0.97 CRT Glass % -$0.13-$7.98 Total Per TV-$4.70 Total Per Lb-$0.06 Processing Cost-$0.22 Overall Cost-$0.28

Teardown Analysis: CRT Television, non wooden console Example: The good old days Total TVs50 Total Weight3890 Avg TV Weight77.8 Commodities Total Weight (lbs) Weight per TV Percentage of Weight Price Per Pound Total Per TV Copper Yokes % $1.10$1.54 Degaussing Wire % $2.20$1.06 Misc Wire % $1.05$0.38 Module Boards % $0.45$2.44 HIPS % $0.18$1.58 CRT Glass % -$0.10-$6.14 Total Per TV$0.86 Total Per Lb$0.01 Processing Cost-$0.22 Overall Cost-$0.21

Why is there a charge to recycle TV’s? Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) subsidy Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) subsidy Covers an amount of weight each year determined by the OEM’s market share Covers an amount of weight each year determined by the OEM’s market share There is no state set rate for subsidy There is no state set rate for subsidy HB 765 HB 765

Hazards of Electronics Recycling

Mercury Mercury Found mainly in flat panel TV’s and monitors Found mainly in flat panel TV’s and monitors Universal Waste Universal Waste Many of these devices still have recoverable value Many of these devices still have recoverable value

Hazards of Electronics Recycling Lead Lead Found in circuit boards and cathode ray tubes Found in circuit boards and cathode ray tubes Over time, lead can leach into ground water and soil Over time, lead can leach into ground water and soil The industry is seeing more and more cases of improper handling of leaded glass The industry is seeing more and more cases of improper handling of leaded glass

Hazards of Electronics Recycling Improper handling of leaded glass Improper handling of leaded glass How can you make sure that the material from your program is handled responsibly? How can you make sure that the material from your program is handled responsibly?

1. Make sure your vendor is actually processing electronics Stone Castle Recycling Stone Castle Recycling Processor in Utah Processor in Utah Three sites recently experienced fires Three sites recently experienced fires 15 million lbs of charred electronic residues were left behind 15 million lbs of charred electronic residues were left behind Arson investigation was inconclusive Arson investigation was inconclusive The company’s owner fled The company’s owner fled

2. Make sure that your processor is shipping out the CRT glass that it is generating Creative Recycling Systems Creative Recycling Systems Filed for bankruptcy last October Filed for bankruptcy last October Left 30 million lbs of of CRT’s in warehouses across the east cost Left 30 million lbs of of CRT’s in warehouses across the east cost 9 million lbs was left at its Raleigh NC facility 9 million lbs was left at its Raleigh NC facility Abandonment order approved by the court awarded ownership of all “assets” (including CRT glass) to Regions Bank and the facility landlords Abandonment order approved by the court awarded ownership of all “assets” (including CRT glass) to Regions Bank and the facility landlords

2. Make sure that your processor is shipping out the CRT glass that it is generating Creative Recycling Systems Creative Recycling Systems Quote from company trustee, Jerry McHale Quote from company trustee, Jerry McHale “Going back in history, to me, it looks like there was no strategic plan as to how they were going to solve their glass problem. Something should have occurred far earlier to take care of it or to adjust their pricing to reflect the fact that they were going to have to pay 15 or 20 cents a pound to get rid of that glass."

Teardown Analysis: CRT Television, non wooden console Example: No CRT Cost Total TVs50 Total Weight3890 Avg TV Weight77.8 Commodities Total Weight (lbs) Weight per TV Percentage of Weight Price Per Pound Total Per TV Copper Yokes % $0.49$0.69 Degaussing Wire % $1.12$0.54 Misc Wire % $0.48$0.17 Module Boards % $0.20$1.08 HIPS % $0.11$0.97 CRT Glass % $0.00 Total Per TV$3.45 Total Per Lb$0.04 Processing Cost-$0.22 Overall Cost-$0.18

2. Make sure that your processor is shipping out the CRT glass that it is generating Materials Processing, LLC Materials Processing, LLC Minnesota company Minnesota company Fined $125,000 for storing 5 million lbs of crushed CRT glass in more than 100 semi trailers around Minneapolis and St Paul Fined $125,000 for storing 5 million lbs of crushed CRT glass in more than 100 semi trailers around Minneapolis and St Paul

3. Make sure that your vendor’s downstream glass processor is legitimate. Dlubak Dlubak Glass processor in Arizona Glass processor in Arizona Closed its Yuma facility and left “substantial tonnages of unprocessed and potentially hazardous material” outside. Closed its Yuma facility and left “substantial tonnages of unprocessed and potentially hazardous material” outside.

3. Make sure that your vendor’s downstream glass processor is legitimate. Diversified Recycling Diversified Recycling Shipped glass to a company called Sarah’s Trading in Georgia Shipped glass to a company called Sarah’s Trading in Georgia Sarah’s Trading went on to landfill the glass at a local construction demolition debris landfill that was not authorized to handle the CRT glass Sarah’s Trading went on to landfill the glass at a local construction demolition debris landfill that was not authorized to handle the CRT glass

3. Make sure that your vendor’s downstream glass processor is legitimate. L&Y Enterprise L&Y Enterprise Electronic scrap broker Electronic scrap broker Owner plead guilty to smuggling CRTs into Asia Owner plead guilty to smuggling CRTs into Asia Labeled the containers as scrap plastic and scrap metal Labeled the containers as scrap plastic and scrap metal Faces up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines Faces up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines

How to make sure this doesn’t happen to you 1. Make sure that your vendor is actually processing electronics 1. Make sure that your vendor is actually processing electronics Request a visit to their facility Request a visit to their facility

How to make sure this doesn’t happen to you 2. Make sure that your processor is shipping out the CRT glass that it is generating 2. Make sure that your processor is shipping out the CRT glass that it is generating Request BOL’s showing shipment of CRT glass to an approved downstream vendor Request BOL’s showing shipment of CRT glass to an approved downstream vendor

How to make sure this doesn’t happen to you 3. Make sure that your processor’s downstream vendor is legitimate 3. Make sure that your processor’s downstream vendor is legitimate Request proof of audit of the glass processor Request proof of audit of the glass processor Do a web search for the processor Do a web search for the processor Search EPA ECHO website to check for environmental violations Search EPA ECHO website to check for environmental violations

How to make sure this doesn’t happen to you Look for one of these certifications Look for one of these certifications References References Check data destruction procedures Check data destruction procedures

Questions?? Megan Tabb. Synergy Recycling, LLC