EPA Aims to Reduce Electronic Waste

WASHINGTON, DC, May 29, 2002 (ENS) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed changing its existing waste regulations for computers, televisions and mercury containing equipment to discourage the flow of these materials to municipal landfills and incinerators.

"By streamlining our waste regulations, we encourage more reuse and recycling, cut costs and reduce paperwork," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "At the same time we continue to protect public health and the environment by providing better methods for reusing, recycling and managing materials containing hazardous substances such as lead and mercury."

Color computer monitors and televisions contain cathode ray tubes (CRTs), most of which contain lead to protect users from x-rays generated while the tube is in operation. A typical computer monitor may contain up to eight pounds of lead.

The EPA estimates that more than 250 million computers in this country will be retired from use over the next five years.

Discarded computers are a major environmental and waste disposal problem. (Photo courtesy Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition)

The EPA proposal will also streamline regulations for mercury containing equipment. Mercury is used in several types of instruments common to electric utilities, municipalities and households, such as switches, barometers, meters, temperature gauges, pressure gauges and sprinkler system contacts.

Under the proposal, mercury containing equipment would be treated as a universal waste, rather than being subject to the full hazardous waste regulations under RCRA. Most universal wastes are items that are thrown into the trash by households and small businesses, such as batteries, thermostats, lamps and pesticides.

The EPA issued the first universal waste rule in 1995 to streamline environmental regulations for wastes produced in small quantities by large numbers of businesses. Handlers of universal wastes follow special standards designed to encourage centralized collection and recycling in order to keep these wastes out of landfills and incinerators.

EPA believes that these proposed changes will encourage the recycling of these materials, while minimizing the possibility of releasing lead or mercury into the environment.

But some critics warn that the EPA's proposal overlooks key issues and may increase the waste disposal burden on local governments.

"Extending the universal waste rule to products containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) is an important step to address this country's electronics junkpile," said Michael Bender, executive director of the Mercury Policy Project and a co-founder of the Computer TakeBack Campaign. "The EPA's action, however, fails to address the huge numbers of computers, televisions and other electronics that are being shipped out of the country, or not being properly recycled domestically."

The Computer TakeBack Campaign is a national network of toxics and waste reduction activists, recycling professionals, local officials, students and design professionals promoting producer responsibility for discarded computers and consumer electronics.

"The EPA's action intends to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses but will very likely increase the burden and costs borne by local governments," said David Wood, program director of the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) and organizing director of the Computer TakeBack Campaign. "The infrastructure necessary to safely and efficiently refurbish or recycle computer monitors, televisions and other consumer electronics does not yet exist."

"In the absence of a sufficient infrastructure, local governments may become repositories for discarded products," continues Wood. "We must keep these materials out of landfills and incinerators, but we must also shift the costs and burden off of local governments and on to producers."

More information about the Computer TakeBack Campaign is available at: http://www.grrn.org/e-scrap/index.html

The EPA's proposed rule is available at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm