John Howard Federal Environmental Executive

1
John HowardFederal Environmental
Executive December 11, 2003
2
Outline

• Context for Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC)
• Goals for the FEC
• FEC Benefits
• How FEC Relates to other Electronics Initiatives
• Contact Information

3
The Facts

• Average life cycle of federally owned computers
  is 3 years
• Approximately 10,000 federally owned computers
  could be deemed excess or surplus each week
• Many could be REUSED by schools, nonprofits, and
  other government agencies!
• Significant quantities are ending up in storage
  closets, warehouses, or landfills

From This
To This
4
Fact - The federal government is the largest
procurer of consumer electronics

• With 1.8 million employees, the U.S. federal
  sector represents a significant market share for
  electronics
• FY 2003 IT budget approximately 53 BILLION
  (Hardware Services)
• Projected FY 2004 IT budget approximately 59
  BILLION (Hardware Services)

5
Fact Electronics represent serious
environmental costs and opportunities

• Electronic equipment contains hazardous
  substances such as lead, mercury, chromium,
  cadmium, and beryllium.
• And valuable metals such as aluminum and copper
  and precious metals - gold, silver, platinum and
  palladium.
• Components can be reused, recycled, or reclaimed
  in the current marketplace.

6
The Federal Electronics Challenge offers
Environmentally Responsible Solutions for
Managing Electronics
7
What is the Federal Electronics Challenge?

• The FEC is a purchasing, use, and end-of-life
  management challenge issued for federal
  facilities or agencies to
• Purchase greener electronic products
• Manage electronic assets in an environmentally
  sound manner
• Receive assistance to improve current practices

8
What is the Goal of the Challenge?

• Achieve cost-effective, environmentally
  responsible electronics management across the
  federal government
• This goal will be achieved in part by
• Increasing recovery rate and expand the recycling
  infrastructure
• Promoting environmentally preferable electronic
  equipment

9
Which electronics does FEC address?

• Monitors (computers and TV)
• CPUs
• Cell phones
• Copiers
• Laptops
• Keyboards
• LCD screens
• Printers
• Other

10
Cellular Telephones

• A Growing Concern
• 500 million units projected to enter waste stream
  by 2005
• Short life cycle average of 18 months
• New FCC Rule May Increase Obsolescence Rate
• What is Being Done?
• FEC, Plug-In to eCycling, NEPSI
• Newer units are designed with more recyclable
  materials
• INFORMs new report Calling all Cell Phones
• What Can Consumers Do?
• Donate used cell phones to a charitable
  organization
• Return old cell phones back to retail site

11
FEC Partners Benefits

• Educational Training and Feedback
• Networking
• Cost Effective Tools
• Money Saving Strategies
• Strategies to ensure data security
• Reduced regulatory liabilities

12
So, if youre not a Fed, what's in it for you??
Resources to Share!

• Anything on the Internet
• A sampling of tools to follow
• Program Information and
• Procedures
• Educational Materials
• (presentations, case studies, etc)
• Bid Specs, ESM guidelines,
  Data security tools...

13
Tools available on the Website

• Guidance documents on How to Buy Greener
  Electronics
• Contract language that can be used to ensure
  electronic equipment is green
• Instructions on how to track energy use
• Information you can provide to recipients of
  donated equipment about recycling
• Packaging and storage instructions
• Guidance on How to Select a Recycler

14
Timeline

• Pilot May 2003 - June 2004
• Sign on 20 facilities
• 5 facilities in metropolitan DC
• 5 facilities per region (Regions 5, 9 and 10)
• First awards in Summer 2004
• Meeting to discuss Environmentally Sound
  Recycling of Electronics January 2004
• National Roll-out in Fall 2004

15
How does the FEC fit into other Electronics
Efforts?
The FEC consolidates and summarizes much of the
work happening in the federal government into
useable tools and resources for federal
facilities.
16
Recycling Infrastructure

• National Electronics Products Stewardship
  Initiative
• Multi-Stakeholder Initiative
• Develop Collection, Reuse and Recycling
  Infrastructure
• Identify Incentives to Design Products that
  Facilitate Source Reduction, Reuse and Recycling
• For More Information visit http//eerc.ra.utk.edu/
  clean/nepsi/
• Plug-In to eCycling
• A Voluntary Program for Sharing Responsibility of
  e-waste
• Increase the Amount of Electronics Collected and
  Recycled
• Educate Motivate Consumers to visit Collection
  Sites
• For More Information visit www.plugintorecycling.o
  rg

17
Contact the FEC

• www.federalelectronicschallenge.net
• www.ofee.gov
• Christopher Kent (US EPA)
• 202-564-8842
• kent.christopher_at_epa.gov
• Viccy Salazar, (US EPA)
• 206-553-1060
• salazar.viccy_at_epa.gov
• Charles Johnson (Office of Federal Environmental
  Executive)
• 202-564-1078
• johnson.charles_at_ofee.gov