THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND RECYCLING OF ELECTRONICS DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS

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THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND RECYCLING OF
ELECTRONICSDEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

• ROBERT TONETTI
• USEPA
• OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE

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MANY GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

• STATE LOCAL LEVELS
• LEGISLATION REGULATIONS
• LANDFILL BANS
• RECYCLING FACILITY PERMITS, OVERSIGHT,
  ENFORCEMENT
• GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
• FEDERAL LEVEL
• LEGISLATION REGULATIONS
• NATIONAL LEGISLATION?
• CRT RULE
• GUIDELINES CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
• PLUG-IN, FEC, READ
• INTERNATIONAL
• OECD ESM PROGRAM GUIDELINES
• BASEL CONVENTION ITS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

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MANY INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES

• RECYCLERS ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS
• RESPONDING TO
• CUSTOMER/PUBLIC DEMANDS
• LIABILITY/RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES
• GOVERNMENTAL INITIATIVES
• NEED FOR DUE DILIGENCE
• ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (EMS)

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FOCUS ON TWO SETS OF STANDARDS

• EPA PLUG-IN GUIDELINES
• VOLUNTARY PROGRAM FOR END-OF-LIFE ELECTRONICS
• OECD ESM GUIDELINES
• ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
  DEVELOPMENT
• 30 DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

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EPA PLUG-IN GUIDELINES

• GUIDELINES FOR SAFE MANAGEMENT OF END-OF-LIFE
  ELECTRONICS
• SET EXPECTIONS FOR PLUG-IN PARTNERS
• ALSO USEFUL AS GUIDE FOR ANY E-WASTE RECYCLING
• BASED ON EFFORTS UNDER OECD, NEPSI, FEC OTHERS
• DUE DILIGENCE CRITICAL
• ADDRESSES EXPORT

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESMATERIALS COVERED

• FOR REUSE, REFURBISHMENT OR RECYCLING, ONLY
  EQUIPMENT CONTAINING OR CONSISTING OF THE
  FOLLOWING ARE COVERED
• CIRCUIT BOARDS, WHOLE OR SHREDDED
• CRTs
• BATTERIES
• MERCURY- PCB-CONTAINING EQUIPMENT
• FOR DISPOSAL, ALL EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS COVERED

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESREUSE REFURBISHMENT

• SHIPMENT MEETS REUSE OR REFURBISHMENT
  SPECIFICATIONS
• EQUIPMENT IS PACKAGED TO PROTECT VALUE FOR REUSE
  OR REFURBISHMENT
• PROPER BUSINESS RECORDS KEPT OF TRANSACTION, INCL
  PRICE PAID

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESRECYCLING FACILITIES

• APPROPRIATELY LICENSED
• HAVE AN EMS OR WRITTEN PLAN FOR RISK MANAGEMENT
  WITH REGULAR REEVALUATION
• MONITORING AND RECORDKEEPING
• CLOSURE PLAN, IF NECESSARY, FINANCIAL GUARANTEE

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESRECYCLING FACILITIES

• WORKER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
• EHS TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
• WRITTEN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PLAN THAT ADDRESSES
  SPECIFIC SUBSTANCES
• SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHERE SHREDDING OR HEATING
  USED
• WRITTEN PLAN FOR POLLUTANT RELEASES EMERGENCIES
• LIABILITY INSURANCE
• COMPLETION OF EHS AUDIT, EVERY 1-3 YEARS

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESEXPORT FOR RECYCLING

• REMOVE, PRIOR TO EXPORT, UNLESS TO OECD COUNTRY
• BATTERIES
• MERCURY- PCB-CONTAINING COMPONENTS
• CIRCUIT BOARDS, EXCEPT HANDHELD EQUIPMENT
• CRTs CRT GLASS PROCESS PRIOR TO EXPORT
• COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF IMPORTING
  TRANSIT COUNTRIES
• NON-OECD COUNTRIES CANNOT LEGALLY ACCEPT
  HAZARDOUS WASTES w/o BILATERAL WITH U.S.

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PLUG-IN GUIDELINESDISPOSAL

• MINIMIZE DISPOSAL OF ALL COMPONENTS OF
  ELECTRONICS
• IF DISPOSAL NECESSARY, THEN ENERGY RECOVERY
  PREFERRED OVER LANDFILL
• DISPOSAL FACILITY IS FULLY LICENSED FOR THE WASTE
  
• DISPOSAL FACILITY HAS AN EMS

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OECD ESM PROGRAM

• COVERS WIDE ARRAY OF WASTES SCRAP
• NOT MANDATORY, BUT COUNTRIES REPORT ON PROGRESS
• ENCOURAGES USE OF THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION
• TWO TYPES OF GUIDELINES
• CORE ELEMENTS FOR FACILITIES
• WASTESTREAM-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
• REUSE/RECYCLING OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS

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OECD CORE ELEMENTS

• FACILITIES SHOULD
• BE PROPERLY AUTHORIZED/LICENSED
• HAVE AN EMS SYSTEM IN PLACE
• MEASUREABLE OBJECTIVES/TARGETS
• REGULAR REVIEW OF PROGRESS
• COLLECTION REVIEW OF EHS DATA
• REGULAR AUDIT/INSPECTION PROGRAM
• PERIODIC FACILITY REPORT ON PROGRESS
• SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR SMALL FIRMS

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OECD CORE ELEMENTS

• FACILITIES SHOULD
• SUFFICIENTLY PROTECT WORKERS THE ENVIRONMENT
• HAVE ADEQUATE MONITORING, RECORDKEEPING,
  REPORTING
• COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
• EFFLUENTS AND EMISSIONS
• INCOMING, STORED OUTGOING WASTE MATERIALS
• HAVE AN ADEQUATE TRAINING PROGRAM
• HAVE AN ADEQUATE UP-TO-DATE EMERGENCY PLAN
• HAVE A CLOSURE/POST-CLOSURE PLAN
• ADEQUATE FINANCIAL GUARANTEE, IF REQUIRED

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OECD PC GUIDELINESSUBSTANCES OF CONCERN

• METALS LEAD, CADMIUM, BERYLLIUM, MERCURY,
  LITHIUM
• CHLORINATED BROMINATED COMPOUNDS
• PHOSPHORS
• ANTIMONY BARIUM
• BATTERIES
• OF CONCERN IN THE EU
• LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS (LCDs)
• ARSENIC IN LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LEDs)
• LIQUID ELECTROLYTES

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OECD PC GUIDELINESSPECIFIC COMPONENTS ADDRESSED

• PROCESSING OPTIONS PROPER HANDLING
• CIRCUIT BOARDS
• BATTERIES CAPACITORS
• CATHODE RAY TUBES (CRTs)
• LEADED GLASS
• PHOSPHORS
• FLAT PANEL DISPLAYS LAPTOPS
• INSULATED WIRE
• PLASTICS

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EXISTING FACILITY EVALUATION PROGRAMS

• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (EMS)
• ISO 14000 SERIES CERTIFICATION
• IAER CERTIFICATION (iaer.org)
• ISRI RIOS CERTIFICATION (in development)
• COMPREHENSIVE FACILITY EVALUATIONS
• CHWMEG (chwmeg.org)
• WFER (wcar.org)
• NONE INVOLVE COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE-RELATED
  REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION TO STANDARD

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THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION

• EPA WILL PURSUE USE OF THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATION
  (TPOs) TO PROVIDE RECYCLER CERTIFICATIONS
• CERTIFICATIONS WOULD REQUIRE EMS PLUS CONFORMANCE
  TO PLUG-IN OR OTHER GUIDELINES
• MULTISTAKEHOLDER DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS