By Brett Rosenberg
November 1, 2004

Several notable speakers provided their insights into the state of electronics equipment recycling during the MWMA 2004 Fall Summit Electronics Recycling and Producer Responsibility Session, addressing private and public concerns regarding the rapidly growing need to respond to accumulating used and obsolete electronics.

Larry King of Hewlett Packard's Product Recycling Solutions division began the session with a presentation of HP's work toward product take-back, design for the environment, known as DfE, and encouraging legislation and collaboration that promotes manufacturer, consumer and government responsibility with regard to electronics equipment. As a corporation that manufactures over 36,000 products for personal use, business, industry, engineering, scientific and educational use, HP recognizes the importance of reusing or recycling as much as possible for both economic and environmental reasons.

As King remarked, "The electronics waste issue is growing and needs to be addressed sooner or later." In order to ease the economic risk associated with the end of life phase of the product, HP actively adopted strategies to extend product life, decrease product waste, and ultimately increase value to consumers while addressing environmental concerns. Unfortunately, as more electronics accumulate, prices for recycled material have ebbed as recovery costs have increased.

These trends have led HP to promote programs that aim to level the playing field among all levels of government, manufacturers and all types of consumer sales, including internet, catalog, and retail stores. "HP supports regulations and legislation which provide a framework for shared responsibility," concluded King.

Aaron Aragon of Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR), described efforts the Federal Prison Bureau has undertaken to address some of the challenges about which Larry King spoke. As a wholly-owned government corporation, UNICOR employs and provides job skills training to the greatest practicable number of inmates confined within the Federal Bureau of Prisons; contributes to the safety and security of our Nation's federal correctional facilities by keeping inmates constructively occupied; produces market-priced quality goods for sale to the federal Government; operates in a self-sustaining manner, all while seeking to minimize UNICOR's impact on private sector business and labor.

One of UNICOR's major business operations involves electronics recycling. UNICOR's Recycling Business Group provides competitively priced electronic recycling that meets all federal, state, and local requirements. If an item cannot be reused, it is broken down into component parts that are recycled. The Recycling Business Group's goal is to make sure every part is recycled or resold.

Daphne Washington of the Kern County Waste Management Department presented her organization's experiences with a grant-funded e-waste collaborative, an unconventional project created to growing supply of used electronics products. Businesses and residents participate by donating dated electronics to the local, nonprofit thrift store network, including Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Collected electronic waste is transported to and processed by the Bakersfield Association of Retarded Citizens (BARC). Material that is in good working order, refurbishable, or marketable is managed by BARC technical staff and eventually sold or donated through the thrift store network. According to Washington, "Businesses like working with these groups and citizens appreciate seeing the BARC members able to work."

Tom Henderson of the Washington (DC) Public Works wrapped up the e-cycling session with a short presentation about developing sites within communities to accept used electronics equipment for recycling. In Washington, according to Henderson, the most effective strategy so far has involved establishing electronics drop-off points at existing recycling centers. A major challenge, however, has involved acquiring the funds necessary to expand the existing infrastructure to handle new materials and train technicians appropriately.