Recycling special report: First steps to cleaner computing
Published: 18 Jun 2001 14:02 BST
In the US, a first step in a cooperative approach to recycling came last month when representatives of government, industry and environmental groups met to establish the National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative. In a series of discussions over the course of the next year, the 45 participants aim to come to an agreement on a system for electronics disposal. Other issues, including hazardous materials and product design, remain highly contentious and will not be on the table.
The goal is to figure out "how to get from what some say is an 11 percent (rate of) recycling and reuse to a much higher number, and over what period of time," said Gary Davis, director of the Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, who is serving as the moderator for the discussions. "Everyone agrees that it needs to increase, and so we're starting from here."
Although they support recycling efforts, computer makers say consumers must shoulder a large part of the burden for those initiatives to succeed. Companies such as IBM, Dell Computer and Sony Electronics have recently launched recycling and reuse programs aimed primarily at consumers, and the Electronic Industries Alliance trade group has drafted an initiative on the issue.
Their work is something of a pre-emptive strike. The industry, which has historically clamoured against any government supervision, wants to avoid having bureaucrats in Washington, Tokyo, Brussels or Boston tell it what to do on the issue.
"Either we solve the problem ourselves as an industry, or we'll have government try to solve the problem," said Mark Small, vice president of environmental affairs at Sony.
Many governments appear willing to do just that.
The International Association of Electronics Recyclers reports that nine countries already have corporate "take back" laws for discarded electronics -- including computers in some cases -- and that 22 more countries will join them within five years. In Japan, for example, a law went into effect last month requiring manufacturers to take back used TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. Computer equipment isn't covered in the law but could be in the future.
In the United States, 45 mercury-related and 21 electronics bills have been introduced at the state level, with bills in Oregon and Arkansas proposing fees on the purchase of PCs to pay for recycling, according to the association. April marked the first anniversary of a law in Massachusetts that bans CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors from landfills, and other states are considering similar measures.
"In the next four years, the issue of computer pollution is going to increase and increase," said Jeremiah Baumann, environmental health advocate at the US Public Interest Research Group. "The computer industry is going to have to face this."
Click here to go return to the intro of our Recycling Special Report: Who pays for recycling hardware?
Click here to go to Part III of our Recycling Special Report: A way forward
See ZDNet UK's NetBuyer guide to recycling PCs -- complete with details of useful organisations that can help.
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