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.

Paragon Green is a joint venture formed by McFarland, founder and owner of CCR, and Tom Drake, founder and CEO of 5R. Between CCR and 5R, the companies recycle an estimated 20 million pounds per year, and Paragon Green projects that it will collect and recycle more than 50 million pounds of materials in 2010.

McFarland is a visionary entrepreneur in IT asset recovery and the electronics recycling industry. She is known for being creatively passionate about diverting e-waste from curbside disposal by working to responsibly convert recoverable electronic equipment into re-marketable used products or component parts. Any equipment Paragon Green collects that does not have a resale value in the used market is safely dismantled and converted into commodities for reclaimed metals, plastic and other recyclable materials.

“With the global economic recession, IT departments are focusing on cost reduction as a leading priority in their budget planning,” McFarland said. “Reclaiming, refurbishing and remarketing IT equipment is an innovative and environmentally proactive approach for companies to offset IT budgets by converting used assets to cash.”

Paragon Green’s asset recycling program is a full circle, end-to-end market managed recycling solution that supports a zero e-waste environmental agenda.

“Paragon Green accepts all e-waste from the commercial markets, including what others consider non-value electronics, including monitors and televisions,” McFarland said. “We also do not ship unprocessed, hazardous e-scrap, such as lead-based glass found in monitors and televisions to other countries. Instead, our lead-based glass de-manufacturing solution, called glass-to-glass processing, is the only true, environmentally sound recycling process.”

In addition to e-waste, Paragon Green is a waste recycling resource for a broad range of goods including fluorescent lights, cardboard, plastic, rubber, and hazardous materials such as lead acid batteries. Paragon Green also takes an active role with schools and community governments by participating in collection events and pilot programs that encourage the community to recycle.

Paragon Green serves medium-sized companies and large corporations within the healthcare, education, government, hospitality, solid waste, e-waste and asset recovery industries, as well as school districts, government entities and solid waste agencies. It operates four plants with nine locations in six states, totaling 300,000 square feet of space, located in Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

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.

“In the West, it’s about 80 to 85 percent yield. Here, because we segregate the materials, we get about 99.5 percent yield.” said Francis Cheong, Nokia’s environmental affairs manager for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Nokia outsources its recycling efforts in the country to local recycling service, Total Environmental Solutions-Asset Material Management (TES-AMM).

Joe Vong, TES-AMM’s general manager, explained that low labor costs allow the plant to employ people to separate the materials during what they call the “dismantling” process.

“In Europe, [the plants] have a different recycling management in which a whole phone is crushed and broken down. The recycle yield for this is close to 70 to 80 percent,” said Vong. “This is unlike what we do in Asia, where we crush the plastic and boards separately so we get about 95 to 97 percent yield.”

At the Singapore plant, mobile phones are dismantled by human agents who categorize different parts of the phones into different “streams”. Vong described the separation process as the “choke point”. He added that personnel must be very familiar with the materials they are working with and, on average, process 20 to 30 phones per hour in an 8-hour work day.

Cheong said Nokia collects roughly 1.5 to 2 tons of e-waste each month from the Southeast Asia and Pacific region from the public as well as R&D centers, but did not divulge how much of this waste is derived from mobile phones.

In a presentation, a spokesperson from the plant pointed out that its core business lies in “precious metal recovery from e-waste”. Among the metal that can be recovered are copper, aluminum, nickel, alloy, and even gold.

However, turning waste into gold is not an easy process. Alex Hee, project manager at the plant, said it takes 50,000 to 80,000 phones to extract 1kg of gold.

Nokia’s Cheong revealed that from the recovered material, the phone maker reclaims only the cobalt and lithium salts extracted from the recycled batteries, as these metals are very rare. These are then remade into new lithium-ion batteries.

Nokia this year has invested more than S$1 million (US$720,000) in social responsibility programs in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, most specifically in recycling and take-back initiatives, he said.

In a previous study in July 2008, Nokia noted that only 3 percent of the study’s respondentsrecycled their mobile phones. To raise awareness for mobile phone recycling, the handset manufacturer undertakes initiatives to reach out to the local communities in Asia cities like Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

SOURCE: ZDNETASIA.COM

By Liau Yun Qing, ZDNet

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.

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 recently met with E-waste journal Founder and  Program Director of the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo, Mr Ismail Oyekan in Los Angeles, California. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

Ewaste 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 a series of informative and networking events for individuals, environmental organizations or any business involved with electronics waste management. We recently held an event in Los Angeles California and we had several hundred people from over 20 nations in attendance . What’s impressive is this was our first event. 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 website & upcoming magazine, ewastejournal.com.

Ewaste 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 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. 20 states have now introduced some form of legislature to combat e-waste with California at the frontline. Federal 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 encourages more recycling of electronics.

Ewaste 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 Telecom Service Providers and OEM manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint & save costs, due to the economic downturn. In return, OEM manufacturers are using less resources and toxins such as lead 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 more awareness & 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.

Ewaste Journal: Tell us about the new standards been introduced to electronics recyclers?

Ismail: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just rolled out 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 safety and health policies as well as 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 lack 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.

Ewaste 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 take about 3 to 6 months with a significant return on investment. The leaders in this industry, such as Electronic Recyclers International and IT Renew are ISO:14001  certified. Any business entity with ISO certification, has significant credibility and therefore will earn more business from municipalities, OEM manufacturers and Fortune 1000 companies. 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 process. More OEM manufacturers, large businesses and municipalities are also requiring vendors to attain ISO certification, making certification a necessity in those cases. This trend is expected to continue and will become the norm within the e-waste industry.

Ewaste Journal: What is in the works for you? When is the next International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo (IERCE)?

Ismail: Our next IERCE event will be held, May 2010 in San Francisco, California. We are expecting over 100 exhibitors and at least 900 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 30 speakers, 700 attendees and over 40 exhibitors. We are currently working on making all the educational sessions and discussions from IERCE 09′ available for viewing and download on our website at no cost. This way, I believe we can share the important information with those who were unable to attend. In March of 2010, we will host an electronics manufacturers/Recyclers Seminar here in California, with the goal of promoting more recycling within the Electronics manufacturing, Telecom and Semiconductor industries. This event is in development as we speak and we will announce dates and a preliminary agenda shortly. We are also doing some consulting work for several NGO’s, researchers and manufacturers.  Of course, we just launched e-waste journal which is another outlet to inform the players in this industry with the latest news, trends, events and offers. Thankfully, we are quite busy.

Ewaste 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. Most are starting to see the economic value in reusing end of life assets so they are setting up innovative buy back schemes. A great example is the wireless-handset industry. More non-profits, schools and churches are also 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

Ewaste Journal: What is the role of Government in 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. In California, several schemes and laws including the cell phone recycling act and the ban on dumping electronic waste have increased recycling industry while protecting the environment. Other states including New York, Oregon and Maine are following this important trend. The Obama administration should really consider having introducing a nationwide ban on electronics waste dumping, like we have here in California. It saves the environment and creates green jobs.

Ewaste Journal: What do you expect in the next few years?

Ismail: I expect electronics recycling rates and activity 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, South Africa, India and China to have more recycling facilities. The United States and Europe export and dump most of our electronics waste in these nations that lack the facilities to process the waste. In my opinion, this is the biggest challenge and opportunity for the industry. The electronics waste generated internally by these countries is tremendous in itself and 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.

]]> http://www.ewastejournal.com/an-interview-with-ismail-oyekan-founder-program-director-international-electronics-recycling-conference-expo/feed/ 0 http://www.ewastejournal.com/new-resolution-calls-on-congress-to-lead-by-example-in-handling-its-e-waste/ http://www.ewastejournal.com/new-resolution-calls-on-congress-to-lead-by-example-in-handling-its-e-waste/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:56:04 +0000 http://www.ewastejournal.com/new-resolution-calls-on-congress-to-lead-by-example-in-handling-its-e-waste/ SAN FRANCISCO – November 20 – Representative Mike Thompson yesterday introduced a resolution that calls on Congress to craft a plan to deal with its own e-waste, only using recyclers certified to the new e-Stewards Standard – the highest in the industry.

“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/