The Electronic Waste journal will periodically interview dynamic personalities, businesses and organizations making news in the electronics waste management industry. Anna Gonzales, a staff writer with the E-waste journal interviewed E-waste journal Publisher and Program Director of the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo, Mr Ismail Oyekan in Los Angeles, California. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:
E-waste Journal: Ismail, thank you for your time. Now moving ahead, what is the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo?
Ismail: The International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo (IERCE) is an annual informative and networking event for individuals, environmental organizations or any business involved in electronics waste management. In October 2009, we held our first event in Los Angeles California and had a follow up event last year in San Francisco. More than a thousand people from over 20 nations attended both events . What’s impressive is we are just getting started. I believe this demonstrates that we are in a fast emerging industry where businesses cherish the opportunity to network, learn and display their products and services. That is also the motivation behind the launch of our new magazine; electronic waste journal.
E-waste Journal: What is the climate of the electronics waste management industry?
Ismail: The electronics waste management industry is a derivative of the $52 billion dollar waste industry. As we all grow more dependent on computers, cellular phones and information technology assets we will certainly generate more e-waste. Electronic waste is now the fastest growing waste stream in developed nations and the issue of electronic waste containing toxins and been dumped in nations where there are no facilities to process this waste stream is well documented. More than 20 states have now introduced some form of legislature to combat e-waste. National laws are in development and more businesses are realizing the social and environmental benefits of proper e-waste management. There are more players in this rather new industry and the industry itself is introducing new standards. Also commodities such as copper, silver and gold are rising in value which is a contributing factor to the increase in the rates of recycled electronic waste.
E-waste Journal: Is the United States behind Europe when it comes to electronics waste management?
Ismail: When you look at the technology, legislature and recycling activity, I’m afraid the answer is “yes”, the Unites States is behind. However, I believe the tide is changing and the public, business sector, government and academia are more interested in sustainability here than say 5 years ago. The “green revolution” is not a fad or a trend. More municipalities, telecom service providers and electronics manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint & save costs. In return, OEM manufacturers are using less resources and toxins such as lead and mercury in the design of their products. More electronics manufacturers, retailers and end users are also taking responsibility for the proper disposal of their surplus, defective & end of life electronics assets. There is a growing awareness & more publicity about the environmental impacts of e-waste thanks to NGO’s like Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition’s investigative reports. These are all positive trends.
E-waste Journal: Tell us about the new standards been introduced to electronics recyclers?
Ismail: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders introduced a new standard called the R2 and a Seattle based environmental watchdog group, Basel Action Network (BAN) also recently introduced a competiting standard known as the e-stewards program. These new standards are much welcomed by the electronics recycling community, although there is a lot of misinformation and confusion about their differences. An “ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification” is the International standard but these newly introduced standards include export guidelines, safety and continuous reviews by 3rd party auditors to ensure compliance. I believe an ISO 14001, e-stewards or R2 certification, gives a recycler tremendous credibility, saves costs and is also a huge marketing advantage over competitors. Currently less than 25% of the approximate 700 electronic collectors and recyclers participating in the California SB-20/SB-50 program have any certification. This will change because the industry is becoming more regulated and certification which is currently voluntary will obviously become a necessity in the coming months and years. Our intent is to keep our readers informed on the certification process and newest developments.
E-waste Journal: How long is the ISO certification process and what are the costs and benefits?
Ismail: The costs are quite high, but the great news is we are developing relationships with the best consultants, registrars and auditors in the Industry which will result in savings of up to 70% for any interested electronics recycler or OEM manufacturer in regards to ISO:9001 & ISO:14001. The process will also take less time to achieve certification and produce a significant return on investment. The leaders in this industry are ISO:14001 certified. Any business entity with ISO certification, has more credibility and therefore will earn more business from municipalities, OEM manufacturers and large enterprises. Historically, in the event of a violation, regulators will fine you less if you have a documented environmental management system(ISO:14001) in place. Most importantly, the process is designed to save costs while minimizing the environmental impacts of your recycling process. More OEM manufacturers, large businesses and municipalities are requiring recycling vendors to attain certification as part of a green supply chain and transparent downstream processing, making certification a necessity. This trend is expected to continue and will become the norm within the e-waste management industry.
E-waste Journal: What is in the works for you? When is the next International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo (IERCE)?
Ismail: The 3rd IERCE event will be held, May 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. We are expecting more than 90 exhibitors and at least 800 participants. We will keep providing a much needed interactive platform for presentations and discussions by leaders and visionaries in this industry. Our last event had more than 40 speakers, 600 attendees and 65 exhibitors. Of course, we just launched our new publication, the electronic-waste journal which is a much needed educational and marketing platform for industry stakeholders. Thankfully, we are quite busy.
E-waste Journal: What new trends have you observed within the electronics waste management industry?
Ismail: I’ve been involved with electronics waste management in some capacity or form for the past decade. There are certainly more players now than a decade ago. The new standards are much needed and overall the industry is very receptive to certification and regulation. More electronics recyclers are investing in software and technology to improve their yields, increase worker safety and generally most electronics recyclers are making a rebound from the harsh economic climate a few years ago. Manufacturers are also taking more responsibility due to legislative requirements. More manufacturers are realizing the economic and environmental benefits in reusing what was previously considered end of life assets, so they are developing innovative take-back schemes. A great example is the wireless-handset industry. Many non-profits, schools and churches are now using e-waste collection as a unique fundraising tool. The industry is vibrant and booming and I’m extremely happy to be a witness and part of the growth.
E-waste Journal: What is the role of Government in electronics recycling?
Ismail: The Government plays a crucial role in the management of e-waste and recycling generally. Awareness and education are important as well as regulation and enforcement of recycling laws. The United States, should also reconsider signing the Basel Convention, a pledge which bans the export of electronics waste. At the same time we have to have practical laws in place that allow for the monitored exportation of valuable commodities to markets that have a strong demand for them without harming the environment. In California, New York and a growing number of states, legislation including the cell phone recycling act and the ban on dumping electronic waste have increased recycling activities while protecting the environment. The Obama administration should really consider introducing a nationwide ban on electronics waste dumping, like we have here in California. It saves the environment and creates thousands of green jobs.
E-waste Journal: What do you expect in the next few years?
Ismail: I expect electronics recycling rates and activities to keep rising domestically and globally. There will be more electronics waste, but hopefully there will be more electronics resellers, repair facilities and recyclers to prevent this waste stream from ending up in landfills. We also expect emerging markets & nations such as Nigeria, Pakistan, India and China to have more local recycling facilities. The United States and Europe export and dump most of our electronics waste in these nations that lack the facilities to process e-waste. In my opinion, this is the biggest challenge and opportunity for the industry. The volume of electronics waste generated internally in these developing nations are growing exponentially. They also need environmentally friendly solutions for the disposal of their retired, defective and obsolete e-waste. We also expect electronics manufacturers to design products that are more sustainable, use less toxins and are easier to recycle. It’s a work in progress, but I remain optimistic about us as an industry in reaching these goals.
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Collectors and recyclers of obsolete electronics have until January 1st to enroll with the state’s E-Waste Program created by a law passed by the General Assembly this year.
The new law specifies that only collectors and recyclers enrolled in the program can work with electronics manufacturers who will soon be responsible for collecting and recycling the devices they sell in the state of Indiana.
Makers of computer monitors, laptops, and televisions must register with the state by April 1, 2010. If they fail to do so they won’t be allowed to sell their products in Indiana. This is a similar scenario with the controversial scenario in the state of New York, which is currently in litigation between the state and several electronic manufacturer trade groups.
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The California Integrated Waste Management Board on Monday honored more than 250 businesses and nonprofit organizations for efforts to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Winners in the state’s Waste Reduction Awards Program ranged from tech giants Hewlett-Packard Co, Intel Corp and NEC Electronics America Inc. Hewlett-Packard’s Roseville campus now diverts 91 percent of its waste material, from recycling cardboard and paper products to reusing bubble wrap. NEC’s manufacturing plant, also in Roseville, last year diverted 82 percent of its solid waste, raising $430,625 in recycling revenue for the company.
Driven by aggressive state mandates, recycling has become a major industry in California. The sector employs 85,000 and produces $10 billion in goods and services annually, according to the waste board.
To make the list of recycling honorees, a company must demonstrate an annual improvement in its waste-reduction practices, according to Beatriz Sandoval, a spokeswoman for the Integrated Waste Management Board.
The agency has been publishing the list since 1993. Because of the breadth of industries represented, there are no set standards for qualifying, Sandoval said. Nearly every company submitting documentation to the agency wins an award.
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Nokia Corp. is suing 11 companies and a number of their units in the U.S., alleging they colluded to fix prices on liquid crystal displays.
Nokia’s suit comes as the LCD industry begins to emerge from a long downturn that had led to weak panel prices. LCDs are used in screens for mobile phones, personal computers and televisions.
The Finnish mobile handset giant alleges in the complaint—filed Nov. 25 with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco—that the companies raised “the price of LCDs above the price that would have prevailed in a competitive market” from at least Jan. 1, 1996 through Dec. 11, 2006.
Nokia said it purchased LCDs from the companies and then incorporated them into its mobile wireless handsets.
Three of the LCD makers accused in the suit said Tuesday they hadn’t received any documents from the U.S. court, three others said they were looking into the matter, two declined to comment and the rest couldn’t be reached for comment.
Nokia spokesman Mark Durrant said his company also filed related complaints in the U.K., against makers of LCDs and cathode ray tubes, which are used in older televisions.
Nokia believes it has a strong position in the case because there is no doubt that price fixing has been going on, Mr. Durrant said, though he declined to say how much money could be involved.
Mr. Durrant said it could take a few years to reach a settlement in court, but added that his company is interested in discussing compensation outside of the court system.
Analysts said legal battles take a while to settle so the suit won’t likely have an immediate impact on the LCD makers, though they said the companies may need to set aside provisions from their earnings in the longer term.
The complaint against the group of companies—which includes AU Optronics Corp., Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Sharp Corp. and LG Display Co.—is the latest in a string of accusations of price fixing in the LCD industry.
AT&T Corp. alleged in a suit filed in October in U.S. District Court in San Francisco that AU Optronics, LG Display, Samsung Electronics and other LCD makers were involved in a “long-running conspiracy” from January 1996 to December 2006 to fix prices of LCD panels.
That complaint, filed by AT&T and its BellSouth and Pacific Bell units, Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and others, alleged the LCD makers formed an international cartel to illegally restrict competition in the U.S. for LCD panels.
Nokia’s complaint also comes about a year after the U.S. Justice Department fined several LCD makers for price fixing.
Sharp, Chunghwa and LG Display agreed in November 2008 to plead guilty to the U.S. charges of price fixing in the LCD market from as early as April 2001 to December 2006. The companies paid $585 million in criminal fines.
Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest LCD maker, wasn’t cited in the Justice Department’s decision but it cooperated with U.S. investigators in the probe, people close to the case said. The probe into the LCD industry became public in 2006.
The European Commission in May 2009 sent formal charges to a number of companies supplying LCDs on suspicion that they have operated a cartel. The commission didn’t name the companies at the time but in July, Philips Electronics N.V. confirmed it received cartel charges from the European Commission alleging price fixing.
Other companies named in Nokia’s suit include Philips Electronics, Tatung Co., Seiko EpsonCorp., Samsung SDI Co., Hitachi Displays Ltd. and Toshiba Corp.
Hitachi Displays agreed in March to plead guilty to the U.S. Justice Department’s price-fixing charges and paid a $31 million fine. Hitachi isn’t a defendant in the AT&T case.
“Nokia suffered damages as a result…and is entitled to treble damages and injunctive relief to remedy these injuries,” Nokia said in its complaint.
Chunghwa Picture Tubes deputy spokesman Wilbur Chien said Tuesday his company hasn’t received any court documents and declined to comment further on the Nokia case. Freda Lee, a spokeswoman for AU Optronics, also said the company hasn’t received any court documents from the U.S.
A Tatung investor relations official also said the company hasn’t received any official documents from the court.
Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Ohmori declined to comment. Samsung Electronics also declined to comment.
Officials at Seiko Epson, Samsung SDI and LG Display said they were looking into the matter, while officials at Sharp, Hitachi, and Philips, weren’t immediately available for comment.
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Sheila Davis is the Executive Director of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) based in Northern California. Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is a diverse organization engaged in research, advocacy and grassroots organizing to promote human health and environmental justice in response to the rapid growth of the high-tech industry. In this Webinar, Sheila shares her organizations discoveries after visiting Taiwan, India, Germany and a host of other countries. VIDEO COMING SOON! Click Sheila’s picture for the audio.
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Alfred Hambsch is the President of Canadian based electronic recycler GLOBAL ELECTRIC & ELECTRONICS PROCESSING (G.E.E.P). GEEP is currently one of the largest processors of electronic scrap in North America. In this webinar, Alfred discusses the Canadian electronic waste landscape and the methodologies his company has used to increase market share in North America including ISO certification at all locations and the utilization of technology. He also discusses GEEP’s expansion plans and the company’s vision. Here’s a link to Alfred’s presentation. Alfred Hambsch-GEEP VIDEOS COMING SOON!
]]>“In choosing to work only with certified e-Stewards, Congress is saying they want to be sure their old computers and other electronic products don’t end up being exported to developing nations, or sent to prison recycling shops,” said Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. “We are very pleased to see Congress lead by example in solving the problem of global e-waste dumping.”
The resolution (H.Res. 938) calls for Congress to establish and implement “a coordinated program for the reuse, recycling, and appropriate disposal of obsolete computers and other electronic equipment used by offices of the legislative branch using only those companies independently certified as meeting the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, which forbids the export of e-waste to developing countries and use of prison labor.”
“As consumers of electronic equipment, we are all faced with the real choice of becoming part of the e-waste problem or being part of the solution,” said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network (BAN), a global watchdog on toxic waste trade. “Congress, informed by the horrific pictures of Chinese and African children wandering through heaps of toxic e-waste from the U.S., has recognized this choice as a principled and practical one. This bipartisan resolution to use only e-Steward Recyclers, shows Congress wants to be part of the solution.”
The e-Stewards program includes both the rigorous new ‘gold standard’ for electronics recyclers and asset managers, as well as verification system, where only accredited, third-party auditors can certify whether recyclers are meeting the standard. The standard is currently held by the Basel Action Network, but was developed in collaboration with leaders in the recycling, auditing, occupational health, data security, and manufacturing industries as well as from the accredited third party certification industry.
There is little federal regulation of the recycling industry and most e-waste exports from the U.S. do not violate any U.S. laws. Therefore, responsible companies in this industry who wish to distinguish themselves can now become certified to the new standard which require them to handle electronic and hazardous waste responsibly in a manner that protects the environment and the social and health and safety concerns of the workforce, throughout the recycling chain around the world. This is the only e-waste recycling standard that prohibits the export of e-waste from developed to developing nations.
E-waste is the fastest growing part of the waste stream in the U.S. But of the e-waste that is collected by recyclers, 50 to 80 percent of that is not actually recycled, but is exported to developing nations where it is handled in very crude and dangerous ways that expose workers and communities to toxic materials.
For more information:
Link to the resolution: http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.938:
Link to e-Stewards page: http://www.e-stewards.org/
Electronics TakeBack Coalition: http://www.electronicstakeback.com/
November 19, 2009
The volume of obsolete electronics equipment entering the world’s landfills continues to rise and is expected to reach 73 million metric tons by 2010, placing a significant burden on solid waste management systems. According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 Americans published by Pike Research, consumer awareness of the e-waste threat is increasing, and 76% of respondents stated that recycling is the most appropriate way to handle unused, broken, or obsolete electronics equipment at the end of its useful life.
“The consumer is an integral link in the chain for electronics recycling and e-waste management,” says managing director Clint Wheelock. “In order for the industry to achieve its goals, consumer values, attitudes, and behavior will need to support responsible handling of end-of-life electronics equipment. Popular sentiment is also essential to support the political will of governments as they strive to mitigate e-waste issues through legislation and regulation.”
Key findings of Pike Research’s survey include the following consumer insights:
- 37% of consumers felt that electronics recycling should be free, and an additional 35% stated that electronics should be collected and processed as part of a curbside recycling program.
- Only 14% felt that the cost of electronics recycling should be borne by consumers at the points of purchase or recycling. 10% supported the concept of “producer responsibility” where the manufacturer pays, an approach increasingly being adopted by many OEMs.
- The average consumer has 2.8 pieces of unused, broken, or obsolete electronics equipment in their home or storage area.
- The average consumer surveyed estimated that the cost of collecting, hauling, demanufacturing, and recycling a single piece of used electronics equipment is $12, however Pike Research’s analysis indicates that the true cost is more than $20.
Pike Research’s study, “Electronics Recycling and E-Waste Issues”, provides a comprehensive analysis of the global e-waste landscape. The report includes SWOT analysis for key sectors, analysis of consumer survey results, and forecasts for e-waste generation and processing volumes through 2025. The consumer survey referenced above was a structured, web-based questionnaire conducted among a nationally representative and demographically balanced sample of U.S. consumers. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.
Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, Corporate Sustainability, and Building Efficiency sectors. For more information, visitwww.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.7609.
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In addition to 20 educative sessions, discussions and presentations from speakers including Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network, the 2 day event also included a trade-show with exhibitors ranging from electronics resellers, recyclers, certification consultants, environmental groups and more. ” We made a lot of potentially lucrative deals and the sessions were highly informative , I’ve learned a lot and made a lot of contacts in 2 days” states Sharmaine Robinson who is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at IT renew, an electronics recycling and asset recovery corporation based in Newark , California.
Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, received the prestigious “Electronic Recycler of the Year” award at this year’s International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo. Other award winners included the Seattle based environmental watchdog group, Basel Action Network, Canadian based recycler G.E.E.P & Dexter, Michigan based wireless handset recycler, Recellular.
“We believe our honorees are great examples and true leaders in the responsible yet environmentally-friendly management of end of life, defective and surplus electronic assets” states Ismail Oyekan, Program Director of the International Electronics Recycling Expo. “Electronic waste from surplus and end of life assets represent the fastest growing waste streams globally and our event is designed to bring together leading experts in an ideal platform to learn new market trends and exchange best practice ideas”.
“It’s truly a humbling honor to be recognized as the leader in our industry,” said John S. Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “That we received the recognition at this terrific, forward thinking event, the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo, makes it even more special because we know those monitoring our industry the closest are the ones who have decided to single us out. We congratulate the organizers of this event for bringing together the planet’s top electronic recyclers for an exchange of ideas. At ERI, we work every day to make sure we are setting an example of sustainability and environmental responsibility that we hope all electronic recyclers follow. This kind of recognition helps inspire our entire team to continue with that cause.”
For more information including future dates, registration and exhibitor info visit www.electronicsrecyclingexpo.com
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