EOL Electronics Recycling – Experiences from Large Urban Program American Society of Civil Engineers Going Green: Diverting Materials from Disposal – Electronic Waste Studies By Phil Bresee, Broward County Recycling Program Manager April 30, 2009
EOL Electronics Recycling – Experiences from Large Urban
Program
American Society of Civil Engineers Going Green: Diverting Materials from
Disposal – Electronic Waste Studies
By Phil Bresee, Broward County Recycling Program Manager
April 30, 2009
Hello!
Phil Bresee, Broward County Recycling Program Manager, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Telephone: (954) 474-1820
E-mail: [email protected]
About Broward County
Jacksonville
Tampa
Orlando
Tallahassee
St. Petersburg
Miami
Naples
Key West
Palm Beach
• Demographically diverse population of nearly 1.8 million people (15th largest in US).
• County seat is Fort Lauderdale.
• Subtropical climate – tourism and beaches major drivers of the County’s economy.
Electronics Recycling
• Consumer Electronics - products such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players, video cameras, telephones, cell phones, and computer equipment
• End-Of-Life Electronics - no longer usable, are obsolete, or just don’t work anymore
• In 2007, an estimated 3 million tons of these goods were generated. Of this, approximately 410,000 tons were recovered for recycling.
What are Electronics?What are Electronics?
Electronics Recycling
• Waste stream management• Remove toxic materials from the waste stream• Reclaim valuable assets• Protect natural resources and conserve energy
Why Recycle ElectronicsWhy Recycle Electronics
Electronics Recycling
• E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world– Volume of sales– Rapid speed at which items are considered outdated
• The International Association of Electronics Recyclers projects that 1 billion computers will be scrapped worldwide by 2010, at a rate of 100 million units per year.
• Recycling electronics saves space in landfills.
>> Waste Stream Management>> Waste Stream Management
US Sales Computers TVs Cell Phones
2000 50.4 million 31.3 million 72.9 million
2007 64.2 million 33.4 million 181.9 million
Electronics Recycling
• While only 2% of Municipal Solid Waste, Electronics contribute up to 70% of the toxic materials in landfills
Electronic equipment contains:• Lead• Cadmium• Mercury• Chromium• Lithium• Brominated Flame Retardants• Phosphorous Coatings
>> Remove Toxic Materials from the Waste Stream>> Remove Toxic Materials from the Waste Stream
Electronics Recycling
• Electronics contain valuable metals • including copper and aluminum
• Computers contain precious metals• gold, silver, palladium, and platinum
• 1 metric ton of computer scrap contains more gold than 17 tons of ore and much lower levels of harmful elements common to ores, such as arsenic, mercury, and sulfur
• If landfilled these resources are lost for future use
>> Reclaim Valuable Assets>> Reclaim Valuable Assets
Electronics Recycling
• Research suggests that as much as 80 % of the energy used in the life cycle of a computer, including manufacturing, can be saved through refurbishment and reuse instead of producing a new unit from raw materials.• Saves the cost of mining • Reduces environmental damage• Conserves land• Reduces green house gases
>> Protect Natural Resources and Conserve Energy>> Protect Natural Resources and Conserve Energy
Electronics Recycling
• Need for Electronics Recycling Program– No existing electronics recycling services in Broward– Need to manage large volume of e-waste
• Electronics Recycling Program begins in FY2001– State of Florida’s Innovative Recycling Grant Program
• Grant funding through FY2002• Resource Recovery Board approved funding to continue the program, now
considered a core service due to the tremendous growth of the program
– Partnership with non-profit to develop e-cycling infrastructure– Local program provides recycling incentives and opportunities
• free for residents and qualified small businesses• convenient locations and/or pick up service
Electronics Recycling in Broward County Electronics Recycling in Broward County
Electronics Recycling
• Broward County Residents• Cost is billed back to non Resource Recovery System cities for
their residents
• Governmental Agencies • County and Resource Recovery System cities
• Qualified Small Businesses • 50 or less employees located within RRS cities• Large businesses and Electronics repair or recycling businesses
may participate for a fee
Program Provides Free ServicesProgram Provides Free Services
Electronics Recycling
• TVs - CRT, Projection, Console, Flat panel• Computer Monitors - CRT, Flat panel• Computers - Desktops, Laptops, Servers• Computer Peripherals - Printers, Faxes, Scanners, Mice,
Keyboards, Cables, Disk Drives, Game Hardware, UPS Batteries, etc.• Telecommunication Devices - Cell Phones, Handheld Devices,
Landline Phones, Answering Machines, etc.• Copiers - Floor and Desktop models• Miscellaneous - Audio and Video Equipment, Cameras, DVD/VCR,
Cable Boxes, etc.
What’s CollectedWhat’s Collected
Electronics Recycling
• Major Appliances/White Goods• Kitchen Appliances including Microwaves• Small Appliances• Health and Beauty Appliances• Music Equipment• Power Tools
What’s Not CollectedWhat’s Not Collected
Electronics Recycling
• Drop-off for Residents:• Trash Transfer Stations• Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling
collection events throughout Broward County • Electronics only collection events for Earth Day and America
Recycles Day• City of Deerfield Beach’s Transfer Station
Collection LocationsCollection Locations
Electronics Recycling
• Residents, Businesses, and Governmental Agencies may drop-off at:• ARC Broward
• Pick-up service:• Broward County and RRS government agencies and eligible
small businesses located within in RRS cities can schedule free pick-up through ARC Broward.
Collection LocationsCollection Locations
Electronics Recycling
ARC Broward is a private, not-for-profit organization which supports and assists people with disabilities .
Electronics are:• Collected• Refurbished• Demanufactured
Refurbished electronics are resold or donated.
Demanufactured materials are sent for further processing into commodity materials.
Broward County in Partnership with ARC BrowardBroward County in Partnership with ARC Broward
Whole Foods – America Recycles Day• November 15, 2008
Best Buy - Earth Day• April 17-18, 2009
Electronics Recycling
Broward County Partners with Private CorporationsBroward County Partners with Private Corporations
City of Oakland Park Electronics Curbside Collection Program
• City collects electronics from residents curbside• City logs collection data• ARC Broward picks up electronics from the City
Electronics Recycling
Broward County in Partnership with RRS CitiesBroward County in Partnership with RRS Cities
Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics
Recycling Events are held 12 times per year
in RRS Cities
Events are Sundays from 8 am to 3pm
Electronics Recycling
Broward County in Partnership with RRS CitiesBroward County in Partnership with RRS Cities
Electronics Recycling
Over 4,715,600 lbs
collected
Over 46,200 participants
Electronics Recycling
Electronics Recycling
307 Business Users 102 Government Users12,271 Resident Users12,680 Total Users
95,528 lbs Business 156,417 lbs Government 787,880 lbs Resident1,039,825 Total lbs
• 12,680 users 35% increase• 1,039,800 lbs 13% increase
• 78,600 lbs of lead recovered 11% increase
• 4,663 TVs collected 44% increase
• 82 pounds per user 9% decrease
Electronics Recycling
In FY 2008…In FY 2008…
• 1,783 event users 55% increase• 94,330 event lbs 36% increase
• 5,910 overall users 58% increase• 395,295 overall lbs 25% increase
• 3,186 TVs collected 85% increase
• 67 pounds per user 12% decrease
Electronics Recycling
FY 2009 Trends…FY 2009 Trends…
The most important thing to remember is…
Electronics Recycling
The Digital Television TransitionThe Digital Television Transition
That rabbit ears will no longer work after June 12.
• February 17, 2009 original deadline– About one-third of the nation's full-power TV stations had
already gone all-digital
• June 12, 2009 new deadline– All remaining full-power television stations still broadcasting
in analog will make the transition to all-digital between April 16 and June 12
• 85% increase in TV collection– 3,186 TVs collected during October 2008 - February 2009– 1,724 collected during the same period in the previous year
Electronics Recycling
The Digital Television TransitionThe Digital Television Transition
Electronics Recycling
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Total
FY2005 390 294 392 345 1,421
FY2006 432 549 639 614 2,234
FY2007 663 855 785 931 3,234
FY2008 866 1,323 1,221 1,253 4,663
FY2009 1,430 1,756 3,186
March 2009 data not yet available as of this presentation
• Original Agreement with ARC Broward - 12-4-01, included a provision for start up, capital expenses and supplies as well as training and technical support to develop the infrastructure to for an electronics collections, refurbishment, demanufacturing, and recycling facility
• 1st through 4th Amendments– raised the contract's not-to-exceed limits to cover contract costs – incorporated price reductions and reduced administrative costs– adjusted contract scope to address end market documentation– extended the agreement until 09-30-09
• Next Step – RLI– A Request for Letters of Interest to provide Electronics Recycling
Services has been drafted and is expected to be advertised beginning in mid April, short listing in June and presentations and selection in early August.
Electronics Recycling
Agreement for Electronics Recycling ServicesAgreement for Electronics Recycling Services
• State and Local Laws– 11 states and New York City have enacted e-waste legislation– Another 6 states have legislation pending– Banning electronics from landfills– Requiring producers to take back their EOL electronics
• National Producer Take Back Programs– A result of the growing number of state laws requiring producer take
back and recycling– Various fee structures
• To Export or Not To Export – That is the question…
Electronics Recycling
The Future of E-CyclingThe Future of E-Cycling
• Spread the word about ecycling– Share information about the importance of ecycling– More recycling reduces per unit cost associated with use of multi -
million dollar recycling machinery• Use your current electronics longer
– Resist the urge for a new iPod or cell phone if yours still works• Recycle/dispose of EOL electronics responsibly• Buy new electronics from a responsible manufacturer
– has take back program– uses recycled materials in product manufacture– uses green design in manufacture… as much as 50% of the costs of
recycling is related to labor for disassembly
Electronics Recycling
What Can You Do?What Can You Do?