July 2, 2009
Electronics Firms Face Off Against Mandated Recycling Programs
From smaller electronics companies to national electronics organizations, a war is being waged against the various state regulations that mandate manufacturers provide recycling of consumer electronics.
With the recent conversion to digital television programming, more and more older television sets are being put on the curb.
To reduce environmental damage from electronics waste, governing bodies from Washington state to New York City have set up their own programs to mandate electronics recycling.
Beginning in 2003, 19 states have passed such laws, while similar legislation has been introduced in 12 other states. So far, the laws have taken effect in 10 states, with more set to go into effect next year.
Now, electronics companies are fighting back, sometimes with lawsuits, saying the recycling programs are too costly, reports WSJonline.com.
In New York City, the Consumer Electronics Association, which represents 2,000 electronics companies, is negotiating to alter a city ordinance that would require companies to pick up obsolete electronics on a door-to-door basis. The group says the effort in that city alone could cost $200 million annually.
In Washington State, a program that requires electronics manufacturers to help pay for recycling has cost Seattle-based ToteVision 4 percent of its profits since January, said Bill Taraday, president of the $10 million firm, which makes LCD screens. Five companies, including ToteVision, have filed suit against the state, citing unreasonable costs.
The Electronics TakeBack Coalition has said that too few TV manufacturers have programs to recycle electronics, and that many of the ones that exist are inadequate. It has issued a company by company scorecard.
Even some existing electronics recycling companies have come under fire for alleged fraud. In a move to help businesses ensure that they are ethically recycling their obsolete electronics, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) now offers electronics recyclers and others including asset management and refurbishing operations national certification to the e-Stewards Certification Program developed by the Basel Action Network (BAN).
To combat recycling fraud and contamination, Dell has gone so far as to cease sending its electronics recyclables abroad.
Panasonic Corporation of North America’s recently expanded its Nationwide Recycling Program, with 30 additional drop-off sites in the Southeastern United States including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The expansion brings the current number of drop-off locations to 310 nationwide. Toshiba and Sharp are part of this program, too.
Stay Up-to-Date On Environmental Management, Energy & Sustainability News with EL's Free Daily Newsletter
Advertisers
100% Online Lean & Green Supply Chain Courses
Attain proven tools and strategies to boost your career! >>
Demystifying EPA’s Final GHG Tailoring Rule
Download webinar to learn the key provisions of the new Rule. >>
Trends in Sustainability Performance Management
Take the lead on sustainability. - Take the lead in your industry. >>
Can you be a sustainability leader?
Learn how from one of the world's leading retailers >>
Recent Daily News [ see all ]
- 09/08/2010
- 09/07/2010
- 09/06/2010
- P&G Compacted Powder Detergents Reduce Waste, Water Use
- Global Insurers Want a Role in UN Climate Negotiations
- Hitachi Europe, Müller Dairy to Bring Energy Efficient Data Centers Online
- ABS, SDARI to Test Fuel-Saving Tech for Ships
- ‘EcoAware’ Moms Have Buying Power Worth $1.45 Trillion
- PepsiCo Water Report: Water Efficiency Improves 15+%
- Thales CR Report: Energy Use Down 7%
- How e-Invoicing Can Save a Small Forest
- Roundup – Chevron, RedbirdLED, Chromasun
- Global Energy Efficient Lighting Market to Hit $32.2 Billion by 2015
- Samsung Expands ‘Green Memory’ Initiative, Launches ‘Green’ Website
- Cone, OgilvyEarth Score the Highest in U.S. Sustainability Communications Market
- UNEP to Reduce GHG Emissions 3% Annually
- WWF Seeks ‘Green Game Changers’
- How to Design a Sustainability Strategy in Six Steps
- NEC CSR Report: GHG Emissions Down 37%
- In Sustainable Marketing, Words Matter
- Roundup – GM, Bayer MaterialScience, Abercrombie & Fitch
Charts [ see all ]
White Papers [ see all ]
- Building Sustainability in Hard Times: Integrated EHS Platforms Support Cost Savings
- Get Green Powered and Lower Your Energy Costs
- Eco-Competitiveness: Safeguarding Profitability and the World's Natural Resources
- The Revolution in Warehouse Lighting: LEDs and Intelligent Lighting Systems
- Global Trends In Sustainability Performance Management
- The EPA's Mandatory Reporting Rule
- A Business Framework for Excelling at Enterprise Carbon Management
- What's On Your Sustainability Dashboard?
- 9 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs
Comments and Discussions
Kate Schrank on Global Insurers Want a Role in UN Climate Negotiations
"Insurance companies are getting involved in developing climate change policy..."
Rick on Global Insurers Want a Role in UN Climate Negotiations
"Once the Insurance companies get involved it becomes all about $ and not about doing..."
Tony Nocito on How to Design a Sustainability Strategy in Six Steps
"Great Articles — Great Advice!"
R B Grant on Global Energy Efficient Lighting Market to Hit $32.2 Billion by 2015
"LED lights can save any home owner money. They have a longer..."
Mark from Commercial EPCs on Global Energy Efficient Lighting Market to Hit $32.2 Billion by 2015
"That’s way too big.. We all hope to get it."
stephanie rico on Cone, OgilvyEarth Score the Highest in U.S. Sustainability Communications Market
"By Ogilvy having OgilvyEarth, aren’t they walking..."
Alan Campbell on Is It Time To Ease Off On The Sustainability Talk?
"Numbers speak loader than words. Our problem is quantitative so surely the..."







Reader Comments
ANAB has not accredited eStewards yet. They are anticiapting to have a finished the accreditation by 2010. However, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Institute’s RIOS (Recycling Institute Operating Standard) has been ANAB for since earlier this year. The International Association of Electronics Recyclers (IAER) has also had a 3rd party, indepently audited “Certified Electronics Recycler” certification for a couple of years. This audit has been typically performed by an ISO auditor.
Recycler | July 3rd, 2009
The electronic wastes are a major problem in the real world, we want to care about it.
electronics | July 4th, 2009