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BMPs and Certification for Recyclers of Electronics

BMPs and Certification for Recyclers of Electronics. Bob Tonetti U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste. Electronic Recycling: . The Federal Government and many others are promoting recycling. We need assurances that recycling will be environmentally sound Recycler’s Expections:

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BMPs and Certification for Recyclers of Electronics

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  1. BMPs and Certification for Recyclers of Electronics Bob Tonetti U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste

  2. Electronic Recycling: • The Federal Government and many others are promoting recycling. • We need assurances that recycling will be environmentally sound • Recycler’s Expections: • “Level playing field” and practicable process • What We Are Working Towards: • A widely accepted program that can identify reliable electronic recyclers

  3. BMPs for Recyclers • Numerous sets of Best Management Practices or Standards exist and more are in development • EPAs PLUG-IN GUIDELINES • NEPSI GUIDELINES • OECD GUIDELINES • TRADE ASSOCIATION (IAER, ISRI) STANDARDS/BMPs • ENVIRONMENTALIST “PLEDGE” • VARIOUS STATE STANDARDS • VARIOUS MANUFACTURER POLICIES

  4. Conformity Assessment:Who Checks If BMPs Are Being Followed? • Some self-certify • Environmentalists pledge • Customer audits • Due diligence • Federal READ contract • EPA personnel assess each recycler • Recycling trade organizations • IAER has a certification program • ISRI certification program very soon

  5. Is Your Recycler “EPA certified”? Though some recyclers might claim so….. EPA does not have a program in place that certifies the practices of e-waste recyclers.

  6. EPA as Convener • March 2005: Electronic recycler certification identified as priority issue at National meeting • October 2005: Initial discussion convened by EPA at E-Scrap: • Participants include: Federal/State, Manufacturers, Retailers, Public Interest, Re-Users, Refurbishers, Recyclers, and Purchasers of Recycling Services • January 2006: EPA engaged outside facilitator for follow up discussion in DC

  7. Current Status • Working towards Voluntary Consensus BMPs and Certification Process • Building on existing information and processes • Engaging a broad range of stakeholders • Anticipating certification by third party organizations • Small group tasked with: • Identifying current “best practices” • Identifying gaps • Investigating the ANSI standards development process • Reporting to full stakeholder group May 2006

  8. EPA’s Has Several Roles • Convener: Of the multi-stakeholder group and technical experts • Participant: Active in helping to develop the BMPs and certification program • Supporter: Will promote use of BMPs and certification • Purchaser: Federal government will use services of recyclers that have been certified

  9. Some Issues • BMPs • Going beyond EH&S • How to address exports? • Flexibility • A program that is practicable for smaller recyclers • Conformance Assessment • How does the program ensure “good behavior” beyond the initial recycler? • What about internet transactions?

  10. Some More Issues • Certification: • A tiered system? How high is the bar? • Who maintains/updates the certification program? • Who performs the audits? • Scope: What should the group address? • Products and commodities vs wastes or materials of concern • Privacy/data security? • Prison labor?

  11. Working with Federal Agencies • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) • Consultant on conformity assessments • Advisor on data sanitization (security) decision tree guidance • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Identify worker standards and protection • Department of Justice • Federal prison labor: UNICOR • Office of the Federal Environmental Executive • Promoting recycling • Others…

  12. Questions? Contact: Karen Pollard, EPA E-Mail: pollard.karen@epa.gov Phone: (703) 308-3948 or Bob Tonetti E-Mail: tonetti.robert@epa.gov Phone: (703) 308-8878

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