Sheila Davis (Executive Director, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition SVTC) Addresses The International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo IERCE 09′

Posted on November 27, 2009 by admin

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.

Alfred Hambsch (President, Global Electric & Electronic Processing, G.E.E.P) Addresses The International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo IERCE’09

Posted on November 27, 2009 by admin

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!

India Drowning In Nearly Half A Million Tons Of E-waste Generated Annually.

Posted on November 23, 2009 by admin

Without recycling facilities that can handle the loads of e-waste that need to be processed, Priti Mahesh, senior programme officer with New Delhi-based Toxic Link, says that 97% of the waste gets recycled in hazardous conditions, where workers are exposed to toxins like barium, cadmium, copper and lead.

The scale of the problem is getting government attention, with a draft of a law intending to curb the imports of e-waste and regulate recycling in the works and ready in about 6 months. However, it points to the bigger picture of too many new and unnecessary gadgets pouring into the market place, and too many old but perfectly usable gadgets pouring into dumps and recycling facilities.

Again, while percentages are unclear, “most of the waste from abroad came in the form of charity donations of old technology that finds its way to dumps or imports from countries like the United States, [Mahesh] said.”

As countries like India suffering the brunt of e-waste imports get tougher on importation legislation, organizations like Basel Action Network & ToxicsLink will have to do a tougher job as environmental watchdog groups, since more companies collecting gadgets for recycling will be tempted to unload them onto overburdened, under-protected e-waste dumps.

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Posted on November 21, 2009 by admin

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California Representative Mike Thompson Calls On Congress To Lead By Example In Handling Its Own E-Waste. Introduces A New Resolution (H.Res.938)

Posted on November 20, 2009 by admin

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/

New Research Shows The Average Consumer Has 2.8 Pieces Of Unused, Broken, Or Obsolete Electronics Equipment In Their Home Or Storage Area.

Posted on November 18, 2009 by admin

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.