Transcript 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
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NCER Background
Current Data: What is the State of Our Current
Infrastructure?
The Future: What Infrastructure Do We Need?
Infrastructure Improvement Opportunities
Developments/Conclusions
National Center for Electronics Recycling
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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
Some Big Questions
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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?
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Where do we stand today? Are we close to
having a “national infrastructure?”
What is “Infrastructure”
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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)
What Is the State of Our
Current Infrastructure?
Who is collecting?
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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
Per Capita Collections
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Massachusetts (2004)
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California’s first program year (2005)
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1.61lbs./capita
Snohomish County, WA (2004, transfer station)
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1.61 lbs./capita (CRTs only)
Kirkland, WA (2004, curbside program)
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1.79 lbs/capita
Branford, CT (2004)
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2.94 lbs./capita (average for the 197 towns/cities reporting to the MA
DEP)
1.71 lbs./capita
Hennepin County, MN (2005)
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3.5 lbs./capita
Percent of Population Receiving
“Free” Collection Services
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About 19% of the U.S.
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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
Percent of Population Covered by
Disposal Bans
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About 20% once current bans fully
implemented
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States with ban, but no mandated
financing (yet)
 MN,
RI, NH, (AR)
Collector Density (Darker = More Collectors)
Processing Infrastructure
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E-Scrap News has identified hundreds of
processors across the U.S.
 Processing
techniques and technologies
utilized vary greatly
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Markets for recovered materials are
primarily off-shore
What National
Infrastructure Do We
Need?
Key Elements of the National
Infrastructure
Collection Infrastructure
 Processing Infrastructure
 Information Infrastructure
 Management Infrastructure
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Collection Infrastructure
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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”
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If municipal recycling volumes are to increase,
more consumer collection opportunities need to
be developed
Processing Infrastructure
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At a high level, adequate capacity either exists or could be
developed relatively quickly to manage national-scale
volumes
E-Scrap News Survey Results:
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“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
Information Infrastructure
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Information across all programs
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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
Information Infrastructure (cont.)
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For ARF systems at POS
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For PP/other systems based on market share
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Who is producing covered products, and in what amounts?
For PR systems based on return share
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Who is selling covered products
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…..????
Management Infrastructure
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Could be done by government and/or private sector
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California program infrastructure
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Maine program infrastructure
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CIWMB, BOE, DTSC
DEP, Consolidators
Washington State program infrastructure (under
development)
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DOE, WMMFA, Independent Plans
Private Sector Management
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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
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Funding and legislative guidelines will determine TPO
structure
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9 manufacturers on steering committee
Researched legal challenges, preparing business plan, gathering
stakeholder input
Quasi-governmental or wholly private?
Board exclusively of OEMs, or multi-stakeholder?
Private sector management under the new Dell Policy
What is a TPO?
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Other terms:
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In general, TPO understood to be:
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Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)
Third Party Administrator (TPA)
Clearinghouse/Authority
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:
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One type of financing mechanism, financial role
Control solely by manufacturers
TPO Role in Multi-State Programs
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Multiple and very different state programs, lack
of national program
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TPO could theoretically run systems across state
lines; but challenges:
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How do we prevent/minimize duplicate costs and
decreased efficiency?
Requires state legislatures to pass nearly identical
legislation AND authorize possible out of state entity
Potential solutions: Interstate compact or tiered
TPO model
Infrastructure
Improvements: Projects
and Opportunities
Projects and Opportunities
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How can get an accurate measure of the
national infrastructure?
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Measurement challenges at the state level
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What are the right infrastructure metrics?
Who develops the metrics
 Who does the measuring
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Kickoff discussion at E-Scrap Collaboration
Workshop
Develop short- and long-term infrastructure
development projects
Recent Infrastructure Developments
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“Pilot fatigue” has set in, looking for permanent
solution
More direct state/local govt involvement
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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
Conclusions
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Not ready for a “drop-in” national program, more
development needed
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Many disposal bans/financing programs too new to
analyze
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Any national program requires local involvement
Local experience with any program lacking some areas
Next few years will determine effect and success
Need to work on common metrics to measure progress
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Pounds per capita, per state?
Thank You!
Jason Linnell
NCER
Phone: (304) 699-1008
[email protected]