1 / 27

The State of the Union: Electronics Recycling Infrastructure in the US

The State of the Union: Electronics Recycling Infrastructure in the US. Jason Linnell Executive Director National Center for Electronics Recycling. Overview. NCER Background Current Data: What is the State of Our Current Infrastructure? The Future: What Infrastructure Do We Need?

adeola
Download Presentation

The State of the Union: Electronics Recycling Infrastructure in the US

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The State of the Union:Electronics Recycling Infrastructure in the US Jason Linnell Executive Director National Center for Electronics Recycling

  2. Overview • NCER Background • Current Data: What is the State of Our Current Infrastructure? • The Future: What Infrastructure Do We Need? • Infrastructure Improvement Opportunities • Developments/Conclusions

  3. National Center for Electronics Recycling • Mission: coordinate initiatives targeting the recycling of end-of-life electronics in the U.S. and support actions to move towards a national system • Offices in Polymer Technology Park in Davisville, WV • 501(c)3 organization working with all stakeholders • Major initiative with CEA called National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse – Patchwork Study, BDMS

  4. Some Big Questions • Since NEPSI, it has been common to refer to an electronics recycling "infrastructure."  • What does it mean? • # of collection points? Free or fee? • Other information needed for national system  • Management structure? • Where do we stand today? Are we close to having a “national infrastructure?”

  5. What is “Infrastructure” • Infrastructure - assets of a community that include roads, sidewalks, water provision facilities, sewage removal mechanisms, alleys, street signs, pavement markings, traffic lights, storm water drainage facilities, swimming pools, museum structures, and other public buildings. • For e-recycling, we mean availability of collectors, transporters and recyclers; ability to function as a system • NEPSI Infrastructure Group: Base Level of Service, TPO, Performance Measures, Interim “System” /National Coordinating Entity (NCE)

  6. What Is the State of Our Current Infrastructure?

  7. Who is collecting? • Local Governments - i.e. at solid waste facilities, other public locations • Charities – limitations on acceptable equipment • Recyclers – contract w/local govt, run collection events or pickup from govt approved locations • Retailers – some pilot programs, some ongoing • Manufacturers – mail-back or recycler subsidies

  8. Per Capita Collections • Massachusetts (2004) • 2.94 lbs./capita (average for the 197 towns/cities reporting to the MA DEP) • California’s first program year (2005) • 1.79 lbs/capita • Branford, CT (2004) • 1.61 lbs./capita (CRTs only) • Kirkland, WA (2004, curbside program) • 1.61lbs./capita • Snohomish County, WA (2004, transfer station) • 1.71 lbs./capita • Hennepin County, MN (2005) • 3.5 lbs./capita

  9. Percent of Population Receiving “Free” Collection Services • About 19% of the U.S. • Currently or when legislated program is fully implemented • Includes non-legislated state/local collection opportunities such as: • Hennepin County, MN • Delaware • Fraction of MA localities not charging EOL fees

  10. Percent of Population Covered by Disposal Bans • About 20% once current bans fully implemented • States with ban, but no mandated financing (yet) • MN, RI, NH, (AR)

  11. Processing Infrastructure • E-Scrap News has identified hundreds of processors across the U.S. • Processing techniques and technologies utilized vary greatly • Markets for recovered materials are primarily off-shore

  12. What National Infrastructure Do We Need?

  13. Key Elements of the National Infrastructure • Collection Infrastructure • Processing Infrastructure • Information Infrastructure • Management Infrastructure

  14. Collection Infrastructure • Viable collection opportunities exist in some parts of the U.S. • Outside of legislated states most utilize EOL fees or government grant funds • What percentage determines how you define “viable” • If municipal recycling volumes are to increase, more consumer collection opportunities need to be developed

  15. Processing Infrastructure • At a high level, adequate capacity either exists or could be developed relatively quickly to manage national-scale volumes • E-Scrap News Survey Results: • “How long would it take to double your processing capacity?” • Average response time: 3 to 4 months • Existing/potential capacity not analyzed under different levels of processing standards, but numbers would probably change • Markets for recovered materials is a long-term challenge

  16. Information Infrastructure • Information across all programs • How much is being collected? How are these data tracked and managed • Is it from a local/state source (not required for national program)? • How are used electronics being managed/processed and who qualifies to process these electronics? • Processing standards • Information management and reporting systems for complying with program requirements

  17. Information Infrastructure (cont.) • For ARF systems at POS • Who is selling covered products • For PP/other systems based on market share • Who is producing covered products, and in what amounts? • For PR systems based on return share • What are the brands of returned products, and in what amounts? • What company is responsible for that brand? • What % of these returns are orphan? • For other financing systems…..????

  18. Management Infrastructure • Could be done by government and/or private sector • California program infrastructure • CIWMB, BOE, DTSC • Maine program infrastructure • DEP, Consolidators • Washington State program infrastructure (under development) • DOE, WMMFA, Independent Plans

  19. Private Sector Management • A Third Party Organization (TPO) can offer infrastructure management, way to implement program across state lines • Included in Northeast regional model, Region 5 policy statement, WA law • Pacific NW TPO project • 9 manufacturers on steering committee • Researched legal challenges, preparing business plan, gathering stakeholder input • Funding and legislative guidelines will determine TPO structure • Quasi-governmental or wholly private? • Board exclusively of OEMs, or multi-stakeholder? • Private sector management under the new Dell Policy

  20. What is a TPO? • Other terms: • Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) • Third Party Administrator (TPA) • Clearinghouse/Authority • In general, TPO understood to be: • Private, or semi-private organization, non-profit • Providing management of recycling system for a particular waste stream • Involving product manufacturers • But not necessarily associated with: • One type of financing mechanism, financial role • Control solely by manufacturers

  21. TPO Role in Multi-State Programs • Multiple and very different state programs, lack of national program • How do we prevent/minimize duplicate costs and decreased efficiency? • TPO could theoretically run systems across state lines; but challenges: • Requires state legislatures to pass nearly identical legislation AND authorize possible out of state entity • Potential solutions: Interstate compact or tiered TPO model

  22. Infrastructure Improvements: Projects and Opportunities

  23. Projects and Opportunities • How can get an accurate measure of the national infrastructure? • Measurement challenges at the state level • What are the right infrastructure metrics? • Who develops the metrics • Who does the measuring • Kickoff discussion at E-Scrap Collaboration Workshop • Develop short- and long-term infrastructure development projects

  24. Recent Infrastructure Developments • “Pilot fatigue” has set in, looking for permanent solution • More direct state/local govt involvement • Examples: Iowa, Chicago • Well-established programs see increasing volumes – ex Hennepin County • More retailer involvement – Wal-Mart pilots, new permanent program by Staples in WA counties

  25. Conclusions • Not ready for a “drop-in” national program, more development needed • Any national program requires local involvement • Local experience with any program lacking some areas • Many disposal bans/financing programs too new to analyze • Next few years will determine effect and success • Need to work on common metrics to measure progress • Pounds per capita, per state?

  26. Thank You! Jason Linnell NCER Phone: (304) 699-1008 jlinnell@electronicsrecycling.org

More Related