Transcript USEPA – Tracking Flows of Used Electronics

January 12, 2016
Karen Pollard, Environmental Protection Agency
Virtual Roundtable Technology Solutions for
E-Recycling Accountability
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Introduction.
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Federal government’s interest.
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National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship Commitments
Benefits of new data
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Completed work.
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Current work.
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EPA is glad to be part of this discussion.
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Introducing EPA employees in this field:
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Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
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Office of International and Tribal Affairs
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Karen Pollard
Brandon Bray
Rick Picardi
Lia Yohannes
Stephanie Adrian
Office of Research and Development
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Sahle - Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
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National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (NSES)
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NSES found that there is a lack of information about the flows of used
electronics both domestically and internationally.
The federal government made the following commitments in the NSES to
better understand the flows of used electronics:
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Improve tracking of used federal electronics throughout the lifecycle
and post comprehensive data sets on Data.gov and other publically
accessible websites.
Establish approaches to gather, track and provide public access to
information on quantities and movement of electronics within the US.
Improve information on trade flows and handling of used electronics,
and share data with Federal and international agencies, within the
limits of existing legal authorities.
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More information is necessary to understand the domestic flows of
used electronics.
A better understanding of where used electronics (equipment,
components or material) can be found in US and how they are
managed, can help to verify or fill gaps in the following areas:
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How robust the reuse and recycling industries are in the US.
National recycling and collection rate.
The extent at which electronics are being reused inside the US.
What materials are being recycled/ recovered in the US.
Where the material is going in the US.
How the materials are managed in US facilities.
If domestic flow quantities match the export numbers.
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RFID Innovation Grant. In 2008, EPA awarded an Innovation grant to EPC Global
to investigate the benefits of using RFID tags on used electronics to improve the
management and recycling of consumer electronics.
Two reports on the international flows of used electronics. In 2013, the US
government released reports on the flows of electronics from the US:
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“Used Electronic Products: An Examination of U.S. Exports” , was developed by the USITC, an
independent, fact-finding federal agency.
 Provides estimates of US exports of used electronics in 2011, information on the characteristics of
exported used electronics, information on the types of US enterprises that export used electronics
and foreign enterprises that import used electronics from the US, and end uses of US used
electronics
“Quantitative Characterization of Domestic and Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics: Analysis of
Generation, Collection, and Export in the United States”, conducted by United Nations University StEP
(Solving the E-waste Problem)
 Provides estimates of US exports of used electronics in 2010 and found, based on the existing
trade data, 8.5 percent of materials collected were exported. Describes the challenges to getting
an accurate assessment of exports due to a number of various factors.
New reporting requirements. GSA now requires more information from agencies
on the disposition federally-owned of used electronics.
Revisions to Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Regulation: In 2014, the EPA published
revisions to the CRT regulation on exports of CRTs for reuse and CRT glass.
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Revisions were to help better track exports of cathode ray tubes from used computer monitors
and televisions destined for reuse and recycling.
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The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation
(CEC) is working on a report titled “Quantitative Characterization of
Domestic and Transboundary Flows of Used Electronic Products.”
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The report is part of a multiphase effort to understand the quantities of
used computers and monitors that are generated, collected, and exported
within, between and from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to the rest
of the world. The report is expected to be released in early 2016.
We are also continuing to work with others in the US government to
find ways to better track or identify flows of used electronics.
EPA’s Office of Research and Development is currently conducting a
study to assess the flow of historic, current, and potential future
quantities of used electronics and electronic waste domestically.
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EPA is glad to be part of this discussion.
The work the federal government is doing (and has done) is just a part of the
answer.
 There are many more gaps to be filled.
 There are a number of ways to gather this information.
 Identifying the domestic flows of used electronics will require input from
all stakeholders – federal, state and local governments, industry, NGO’s
and trade associations.
Ongoing flows work conducted at EPA.
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Thank you!
Karen Pollard
US Environmental Protection Agency
703-308-3948
[email protected]
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