Electronics Recycling Workshop Presented in partnership by the New Mexico Recycling Association and the National Recycling Coalition Sponsored by Intel.

Electronics Recycling WorkshopPresented in partnership by the

New Mexico Recycling Association and the National Recycling Coalition

Sponsored by Intel Corporation

June 7, 2002

Why is e-waste the #1 Recycling Problem?


Proliferation of e-products

Source: Stanford Resources, 1999

Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments, 1997-2005

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

Year

Mil

lion

s of

Uni

ts



+



+

Increasingly short life-spans


Average Product Lifespan (in years)Product First Life Total Lifespan

Desktop PC - 386 4 4-6

Desktop PC 486 3-4 4-6

Desktop PC – Pentium I 3 4-5

Desktop PC – Pentium II 2-3 3-4

Mainframe computer 7 7

Workstation computer 4-5 4-5

CRT Computer Monitor 4 6-7

CRT TV 5 6-7

Notebook PC 2-3 4

Computer peripherals 3 5


Lifespan of PCs1992-2007

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

# o

f Y

ears

Obsolete PCs in the U.S., 1997-2007

Year

Units Shipped

[M]

Average Lifespan Share of PCs Lasting

Number of Obsolete

[M]4 years 3 years 2 years

1997 31 3.4 40% 60% 0% 18

1998 37 3.2 20% 80% 0% 21

1999 43 3.1 10% 90% 0% 24

2000 49 2.8 0% 80% 20% 32

2001 50 2.6 0% 60% 40% 42

2002 52 2.4 0% 40% 60% 55

2003 53 2.2 0% 20% 80% 63

2004 55 2.1 0% 10% 90% 61

2005 56 2.0 0% 0% 100% 63

2006 2.0 0% 0% 100% 60

2007 2.0 0% 0% 100% 61

Total 500


Forecast of U.S. PC CPU Shipments,Obsolescence and Recycling

1997-2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

Year

Mil

lion

s of

Un

its

ShippedRecycledObsolete



+


+



+


+

Toxic material constituents

Information compiled from multiple sources.

Potentially Toxic Materials in PCsMaterial Use/Location Health Effects

Lead Metal joining, radiation/CRT, PWB (printed wiring board)

Damage to nervous and circulatory system, and kidneys; serious adverse effects on brain development

Mercury Batteries, switches/housing, PWB

Chronic brain, kidney, lung and fetal damage; effects on brain function and memory; a possible human carcinogen

Cadmium Battery, blue-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT

Pulmonary damage, kidney disease, bone fragility; likely human carcinogen

Arsenic Doping agent in transistors/PWB

Allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, decreased red and white blood cell production

Beryllium Thermal conductivity, PWB, connectors

Lung damage, allergic reactions, chronic beryllium disease; likely human carcinogen



+


+


+



+


+


+

No cogent strategy for end-of-life management



+


+


+


=



+


+


+


=

Big Problem

Response to the Problem• Local governments mobilizing to prevent wholesale disposal

of e-waste• State governments beginning to regulate and mandate

potential solutions• Federal government proposing to declassify CRTs as

hazardous waste• OEM’s and retailers implementing patchwork of programs to

take back e-waste • Stakeholders convening under National Electronics Product

Stewardship Initiative• Electronic recycling enterprises and donation centers ramping

up

Current Status of Electronics Recycling Infrastructure

• Electronic recycling industry taking shape; most operations are independent, small-scale, labor intensive and regional

Stanford Resources, 1999

Distribution of Electronic Recyclers Sampled,

Percent of Total by Region

Mid-Atlantic14%

Midwest28%

New England

25%

South Central

6%

Southeast6%

West21%

Stanford Resources, 1999

Distribution of Recyclers Sampled, by Number of Employees

200+5%

100-1996%

50-1009%

10-5036%

<1044%


• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking shape; most operations are small-scale, labor intensive and regional


• Independent electronic recyclers industry taking shape; most operations are small-scale, labor intensive and regional

• Generators’ access to recycling varies by size, quality of used product stream, ability to pay, and geography

Recovery Options by Generator Type

Generator:

• Large Corporations/Organizations/Agencies

Options:

• Asset management/leasing opportunities with OEMs or equipment vendors

• Contracts with recyclers for material pick-up, processing and indemnification against future liability


Generator:

• Small Businesses/Organizations

Options:

• Limited asset management/leasing opportunity• Limited municipal recovery

• Onus on generator to identify recycler and arrange for material pick-up/delivery


Generator:

• Residential

Options:

• Collection programs increasingly available

• Local reuse options

• Potential for product return to retailers and/or OEMs

Key Unresolved Issues

• Who should bear/share program costs?

• How do we differentiate between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” recycling, particularly overseas?

Electronics Recycling Workshop Presented in partnership by the New Mexico Recycling Association and the National Recycling Coalition Sponsored by Intel.

Documents

recycling problem

life management slide

total500 slide

proliferation of e

short lifespans

computer peripherals35

toxic material constituents

national recycling coalition