Overview

1. Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) Initiative – StEP Regional Activities andUS E-Waste SituationJason LinnellNational Center for Electronics RecyclingITU Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate ChangeMay 2012Montreal

2. Overview • Background on StEP • Objectives • Core Principles • Overview of Task Forces • Regional and Other StEP Activities • NCER and MIT Study on Used Exports • Green Paper on Electronics Recycling Standards • ADDRESS • Overview of US E-Waste Situation • State Laws • Policy Results and Federal Landscape StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM

3. Functions as a network of actors who share experiences and best practices Carries out research and development projects Disseminates experiences, best practices and recommendations StEP Objectives Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP)Initiative was created to… • Initiate and facilitate environmentally, economically & socially sound approaches to reduce e-waste flows and handle them in a sustainable way around the globe StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM

4. StEP Core Principles StEP's work is founded on scientific assessments including social, environmental and economic aspects StEP conducts research on the entire life-cycle of electronic and electrical equipment StEP's research and pilot projects are meant to contribute to the solution of e-waste problems StEP condemns all illegal activities related to e-waste including illegal shipments StEP seeks to foster safe and eco/energy-efficient reuse and recycling practices around the globe in a socially responsible manner StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM

5. TF1 Policy: Analyzes the status of existing policy approaches on e-waste, and elaborates policy recommendations for future development TF2 ReDesign: dedicated to product design aspects to reduce negative impacts of the entire life cycle of electronics TF3 ReUse: defines globally consistent “re-use” practices, principles, and standards to enhance re-use opportunities, change consumer behaviour & reduce „sham re-use“ TF4 Recycle: overall aim is to enhance global recycling infrastructures and technologies to realise a sustainable e-waste recycling TF5 Capacity Building: aims at increasing public, scientific and business awareness and disseminating the results of TFs 1 - 4… Task Forces 15.09.2014 StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM 5

6. Green Paper on End-of-Life Standards ADDRESS US Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics Selected Current Task Force Projects 15.09.2014 StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM 6

7. Annual Dynamic Digital Reporting on the global E-waSte Status (ADDRESS) • Size of the problem remains largely unclear! • How much e-waste is generated? • How much thereof gets properly collected and treated? • How much goes to developing countries? • What is the scope of ‘e-waste’? • What are the developments over time? • StEP initiated Annual Dynamic Digital Reporting on the global E-waSte Status (ADDRESS) • To inform e-waste related researchers with up-to-date and solid data on e-waste globally • To enablepolicy-makers to make better informed decisions E-Waste How do we ADDRESS the problem?

8. Characterizing Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics Project funded by using a grant from Materials Systems Laboratory

9. Project PlanCollaboration is Key Progress

10. MIT-NCER Second Phase Activities • Creating stock-flow model, gathering data to input and incorporate results • Developed and sent survey to recyclers • Unique method asks questions and predictions of how others would answer • Asks questions about markets, types of companies doing export, destinations for export • Different goals/questions from USITC

11. States With E-Scrap Laws • States highlighted in orangehave some type of electronics recycling law

12. Key Differences with US • Only one state with Canada-like fee at sale • We don’t cover all WEEE – very limited, but growing subset; policy and in programs • No federal policy on recycling programs, limited regulations on disposal and export • No coordinated data collection mechanism nationally, incomplete state data • States have moved policy forward, but differently • Established voluntary programs along with mandates

13. 25 State Electronics Recycling Laws • 2003: California • 2004: Maine • 2005: Maryland • 2006: Washington • 2007: Connecticut, Minnesota, • Oregon, Texas, North Carolina • 2008*: New Jersey, Oklahoma, Virginia, W. Virginia, Missouri, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Illinois, Michigan • 2009: Indiana, Wisconsin • 2010: Vermont, South Carolina, • New York, Pennsylvania • 2011: Utah % Covered % Not Covered

14. Policy Results • True patchwork of producer responsibility: goals (geographic and volume), requirements vary • Very few “compliance schemes” • Collection by many actors – some states with very few municipal collection entities • 16 states with landfill bans, 3 not in “25” • Lot of competition for recyclers to get manufacturer contracts • Up to 300 total unique OEMs, but only 30-50 with significant obligations

15. Thank You! Jason Linnell, NCER Phone: 1 (304) 699-1008 jlinnell@electronicsrecycling.org Visit us on the web: www.electronicsrecycling.org and www.ecycleclearinghouse.org

16. CONTACT StEP Secretariat UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) Operating Unit SCYCLE 53113 Bonn / Germany +49-228-815-0213/-0214 +49-228-815-0299 www.step-initiative.org info@step-initiative.org StEP – SOLVING THE E-WASTE PROBLEM