space Press Releases, News Stories

By Jeff Chappell, Electronic News

1 April 2002 -- It all comes down to a clich : You can be part of the problem, or you can be part of the solution. Of course, this industry's PR machine doesn't hesitate to utter clich s at the drop of a press release. But when it comes to disposing obsolete electronics, it may be time for the industry to put its efforts where its corporate mouthpiece is. As we observed in Electronic News' three-part series on electronic waste disposal and recycling, it's only a matter of time before European countries mandate that producers of electronic products be responsible for the recovery and recycling of products at the end of their useful life. Some European countries already do this. Europe is also considering a mandate that would require potentially harmful substances to be removed from electronics, which could prove particularly challenging for the industry. While there is currently no similar legislative movement in the United States, environmental groups are up in vocal arms over the issue of e-waste and not without reason. "Exporting Harm: The High Tech Trashing of Asia" found that much of the obsolete electronics collected domestically under the guise of recycling is shipped abroad, typically to China, where it is disposed of or recycled with little or no regard to environmental or worker health and safety. As a former environmental reporter, I've seen my share of reports from environmental groups, and "Exporting Harm," by the Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) and San Jose-based Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) is one of the better-researched and documented reports I've encountered.

Furthermore, domestic recyclers readily confirmed that the export of e-waste collected under the guise of domestic recycling is a common problem. The United States has no laws against the export of obsolete electronics; rather, hazardous waste export laws specifically exempt electronics. Instead, it is shipped to places where labor is cheap and the laws that are in place to prevent this are rarely, if ever, enforced. "Exporting Harm" garnered a lot of coverage in the mainstream media. And as the European Union's mandates become concrete over the next two years, the issue will certainly see more attention here and around the world. If I may indulge in one of my favorite clich s: It's time for the industry to seize the bull by the horns.

But there are embryonic efforts to do just that. The Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA) is studying different funding models for electronics recycling. And last April the National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI), comprised of members from the federal government, the electronics and recycling industries and environmental groups, was formed. NEPSI acknowledged that the U.S.-based electronics recycling infrastructure is woefully inadequate for the e-waste generated. It's important that the electronics industry actively seek out those pro- active solutions it so often pitches. Aside from the environmental implications, if the industry can't help solve the problem of e-waste to the satisfaction of all involved, it will likely have the solution dictated to it.