Introduction Introductions Agenda review NWPSC mission and definition of product stewardship Relevance to upcoming legislation A presentation and dialogue.

Introduction

Introductions Agenda review NWPSC mission and definition of product

stewardship Relevance to upcoming legislation

A presentation and dialogue with the Northwest Product Stewardship Councilon Product Stewardship & Electronics

OPEN FORUM

Audience concerns and major issues with electronics

What information will be helpful to get from workshop

How are electronics currently handled in individual jurisdictions?

Toxic substances in electronics Toxicity in all phases of product life Production – mining and manufacturing Use – off-gassing of flame retardants Recycling and disassembly – potential for

worker exposure and toxic releases Disposal – lead, copper, mercury, etc.

TOXICITY

Definition and responsibilities of Dangerous Waste Generators

Landfill owner or operator liability Enforcement CRTs designate as Dangerous Waste Ecology’s Interim Enforcement Policy on CRTs Generators pay

Federal and State Hazardous/Dangerous Waste Regulations

REGULATIONS

Local governments may choose to regulates Small Quantity Generator and/or Household Hazardous Wastes (SQG or HHW)

Examples of local regulations Disposal ban issues – need for alternative

solutions Local governments and rate/tax payers pay

Local Rules and RegulationsREGULATIONS

Questions about toxicity and regulations and how they are applied

Cost issues – who pays and how much?

OPEN FORUM

The Case for Product Stewardship

Electronics Product StewardshipElectronics Product Stewardship

Manufactured Globally

Manufactured Globally

No economic

incentive for

manufacturers to

minimize environmental

Impacts.

Product Stewardship – The Old EditionManufactured Globally

Disposed LocallyDisposed Locally

GO DIRECTLY TO LANDFILL.

DO NOT PASS GO.

Product Stewardship – The Old Edition

Disposed LocallyDisposed Locally

Should local governments

and rate payers cover the

costs of handling

electronic wastes?

Product Stewardship – The Old Edition

Linear LifecycleThe Linear Lifecycle of Consumer Goods

Product Stewardship – The Old Edition

The New Edition

Create Economic Incentives

Create economic

incentives for

manufacturers to

redesign products to make

them “greener.”

Closed Loop Lifecycle

The Closed Loop Lifecycle of Consumer Goods

Japanese Model

JAPANESE MODELMandated Responsibility

Manufacturers set front-end fees for end-of-life management

Retailers collect fees

Fees cover orphan & historic waste

Consumers return products to retailers or municipalities

Manufacturers compete to lower fees

Manufacturers and recyclers are financially linked

Old/New Editions

Local governments manage product end-of-life.

Rate payers and local government cover product end-of-life costs.

Manufacturers responsible for product take-back.

Costs of product end-of-life are included in price.

Old/New Editions

No incentives to alter current design.

Continuing toxic legacy.

Incentives to redesign products to make them “greener.”

Upstream thinking.

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP DISCUSSION

Discussion of product stewardship principles Financing issues – who pays Design driver opportunities

WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO

Locally managing electronics using product stewardship principles

The case against government-funded collection programs

Facilitating partnerships Helping organize events or activities Education Recycler’s pledges and environmental reviews of

vendors End-of-life or back-end fees Green purchasing and procurement specifications

Discussion of program options Considerations and opportunities specific

to Eastern Washington governments Leveraging existing programs and contacts

in other areas

OPEN FORUM

NEPSI dialogues 2002 California legislation & Governor’s veto Potential 2003 legislation in Washington NWPSC – key issues Legislations in other states NGO model legislation

STATE AND NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Questions about state and national activities

Participant perspectives on state legislation

Closing comments

OPEN FORUM

Funding Mechanisms• General Tax Base/Garbage Fees

• End-of-Life Fees:

• Advanced Fee (visible)

• Advanced Fee (internalized)

Other Discussion Points• Cost-internalization

• Design incentives

Themes• Where do funds originate? Rate payer vs. consumer

Retailer vs. manufacturer

• What do funds cover? Collection, transportation,

recycling

Base level of service/collection

Orphan & historic waste

• Where does the money go?

• Are manufacturers individually or collectively responsible via TPO?

FINANCE ISSUES

RETAILER ISSUES

Considerations• Latecomers to dialogue

• Not expert on regulations

• Not attuned to environmental ethics and product stewardship

Opportunities• Consumer location of choice for

recycling

• Front-line contact with consumers on product stewardship

• Clout with manufacturers

• Already deal with electronic waste

• Existing relationships with haulers, not recyclers

• Resistant to visible recycling fee at point-of-sale

BarriersSmall Retailers

• Lack of space

• Lack of clout with recyclers

• Can’t absorb dumping costs

Large Retailers

• Marketing controlled by corporate

• Focus on high-volume sales

• Not set up to handle e-waste

• Not set up to handle trade-in programs

AdvantagesSmall Retailers

• More likely to accept trade-ins

• Repair/re-market used goods

• Localized marketing/promotions

• Direct commitment from owners

Large Retailers

• Large advertising budgets

• Clout with manufacturers

• Foot traffic and in-store ads

• Recycling as customer service

• Can track recycling programs

• Pickup/recycling option with product delivery

RETAILER ISSUES

Considerations• Only manufacturers can provide

green design, and pre-paid recycling fees.

• Current programs are unwieldy mail-back versions.

• Manufacturers like government solutions.

• Profit motive is preeminent.

Opportunities• Early involvement in product

stewardship dialogue.

• Understand product stewardship concepts.

• Familiarity with regulations.

• Relationships with retailers and corporate customers.

• Today’s electronics designed to be cheap & disposable

• Manufacturers still recommend donation as a solution.

MANUFACTURER ISSUES

Barriers• Design for the environment is not

cheap.

• Narrow profit margins

• Don’t want to fund legacy piles

• Want to keep product stewardship costs low via gov’t involvement.

• Don’t want to pay for collection or transportation of e-waste

• Don’t want to set precedents that will affect other consumer electronics.

Advantages• Can work with retailers on co-op

advertising and promotions.

• Heighten positive public image.

• Public/private partnerships.

• Design for the environment to lower recycling & materials costs.

• Support product stewardship now to avoid future legislation.

MANUFACTURER ISSUES

Considerations• Expense has discouraged

investment in e-waste recycling without ample volume.

• Recyclers don’t necessarily promote product stewardship.

• Recyclers should be audited and certified.

• Need viable business plan to ensure profitability.

Opportunities• Recycler interest has peaked

with new regulation and legislation.

• Have already participated in some e-waste pilot programs.

RECYCLER ISSUES

Barriers• Legislation/regulation not universal

• Speculative, risky endeavor

• High start-up costs

• Haz-waste regulation compliance

• High transportation costs

• Need to invest in new equipment as technology changes

• Little recycling input in design decisions made by manufacturers

• Disassembly “schematic” not easily attainable from manufacturers

Advantages• Growth industry driven by new

regulations and legislation

• Pre-paid fees will guarantee revenues

• Potential contracts with large retailers and corporate customers

• Government incentives

• Synergy with waste hauling interests and customer bases

• Potential for future clout to drive electronics design decisions

RECYCLER ISSUES

RECYCLING PROGRAMS

• Charitable Donation Charities

Schools

Senior Citizen or Low-Income

• Transfer Stations & Landfills Arlington Transfer Station

• Manufacturer Mail-Back Dell, Gateway, IBM, HP

• Retail Trade-In CompUSA, Staples

• Special Recycling Events Best Buy, Minnesota “Plug Into

Recycling,” Tacoma/Pierce County electronics recycling events

• Reuse & Recycling Networks Computer Recovery Project, Take It

Back Network

• Retail Collection RE-PC

• Collection Boxes at Retail Green Disk, RBRC, Verizon & AT&T

Hazardous chemical for disposale.g. Pesticide, solvent, toxic metal, CRT

From BusinessInstitution

LARGE QUANTITY GENERATOR =

More than 220 lb./mo. or per batch(approx. 7 CRTs)

Requires special disposal

as Dangerous WasteMonitors conditionally exempt If

legitimately recycled (Interim Policy)

From Household

SMALL QUANTITY GENERATOR

Less than 220 lb./mo. or per batch

May bedisposed in Municipal

Solid Waste……UNLESS local rules prohibit

Disposal of SQGW or HHW

REGULATING E-WASTE