Waste Expo Coverage -- Electronics Recycling Gaining Interest

Some people feel that the issue of electronics recycling is the waste and recycling issue of this decade. As computers, television sets, and other types of electronic equipment reach their obsolescence, more communities are expressing concern over what to do with the material.

Concern over the toxicity of some of the material entering the waste stream is one key issue.

While there are a plethora of issues surrounding what to do with this material, Jerry Powell, editor of Resource Recycling, noted a number of myths surrounding electronics scrap. One of the first myths addressed was the notion that there is an ever rising volumes. It is a flat market, he noted. Along with that, the earlier perception that rapid technological changes would drive people to replace their electronic equipment more frequently.

Third, that e-scrap management is an immense environmental problem. And finally, there is a significant amount of valuable material, especially precious metals, in the equipment. The reality is that there is less recoverable material being placed in electronic equipment.

Renee St. Denis, with Hewlett Packard’s recycling division, spent a significant amount of time discussing the success that HP has had with developing and improving their recycling, remanufacturing and reselling market.

One step that has been successful has been the ability of the company to link up with Noranda, one of the largest mining concerns in North America, to help in the processing of the material. HP has locations in California and Tennessee, with a facility in Toronto opening this summer.

St. Denis noted that the actual processing of the materials varies widely, from highly automated to more manual labor.

She does agree with Powell, noting that the value of the commodities in the equipment that is being reprocessed continues to fall. At the same time, the value of the parts and products for use in the service are steadily declining.

While a host of legislative initiatives have been introduced, she says that the likely best alternative would be for an approach of shared responsibility. “This, she notes, “is gaining more adherence.”

processing and recycling of some of the metals pulled out of the equipment.

While St. Denis and her company are approaching the problem from a manufacturers’ perspective, Kevin McCarthy, with the Recycle America Alliance, pointed out that his company, a division of Waste Management, is “probably the only coast to coast electronics recycling business in the country.”

At the present time the company has facilities in five states: Arizona, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas and New Jersey.

Additionally, the company has service partners in three other states: California, Florida and Massachusetts.

The latest trends and challenges confronting the electronics recycling community, McCarthy points out, is that while there are billions of pounds collected, who will pay the cost?

Another key issue is the uncertain legislative and regulatory environment. At the present time different states have different legislation on the books or in various stages of development. These take a host of different tacks as to how to address the handling and recycling of electronic scrap.