Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) Initiative –
StEP Regional Activities and
US E-Waste Situation
Jason Linnell
National Center for Electronics Recycling
ITU Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change
May 2012
Montreal
Overview
Background on StEP
Objectives
Core Principles
Overview of Task Forces
Regional and Other StEP Activities
NCER and MIT Study on Used Exports
Green Paper on Electronics Recycling Standards
ADDRESS
Overview of US E-Waste Situation
State Laws
Policy Results and Federal Landscape
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StEP Objectives
Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative was created to…
Initiate and facilitate environmentally, economically & socially sound
approaches to reduce e-waste flows and handle them in a sustainable way
around the globe
(1) Functions as a network of actors who share
experiences and best practices
(2) Carries out research and development projects
(3) Disseminates experiences, best practices and
recommendations
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StEP Core Principles
1.
StEP's work is founded on scientific assessments including social,
environmental and economic aspects
2.
StEP conducts research on the entire life-cycle of electronic and electrical
equipment
3.
StEP's research and pilot projects are meant to contribute to the solution of
e-waste problems
4.
StEP condemns all illegal activities related to e-waste including illegal
shipments
5.
StEP seeks to foster safe and eco/energy-efficient reuse and recycling
practices around the globe in a socially responsible manner
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Task Forces

TF1 Policy: Analyzes the status of existing policy approaches on e-waste, and
elaborates policy recommendations for future development

TF2 ReDesign: dedicated to product design aspects to reduce negative impacts
of the entire life cycle of electronics

TF3 ReUse: defines globally consistent “re-use” practices, principles, and
standards to enhance re-use opportunities, change consumer behaviour
& reduce „sham re-use“

TF4 Recycle: overall aim is to enhance global recycling infrastructures and
technologies to realise a sustainable e-waste recycling

TF5 Capacity Building: aims at increasing public, scientific and business
awareness and disseminating the results of TFs 1 - 4…
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Selected Current Task Force Projects
 Green Paper on End-of-Life Standards
 ADDRESS
 US Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics
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Annual Dynamic Digital Reporting on the global E-waSte
Status (ADDRESS)
 Size of the problem remains largely unclear!
 How much e-waste is generated?
 How much thereof gets properly collected and
treated?
 How much goes to developing countries?
 What is the scope of ‘e-waste’?
 What are the developments over time?
StEP initiated Annual Dynamic Digital Reporting on
the global E-waSte Status (ADDRESS)
To inform e-waste related researchers with up-todate and solid data on e-waste globally
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To enable policy-makers to make better informed
decisions
E-Waste How do we ADDRESS the problem?
7
Characterizing Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics
Materials Systems Laboratory
Project funded by
using a grant from
Project Plan
1
2
• Organize multistakeholder workshop: June 21st, 2011 in DC
• Describe existing efforts to characterize exports
3
• Final Report assessing existing work on qualitative and quantitative
characterization
4
• Examine official customs product and commodities definitions and
potential modifications
5
• Develop streamlined process and requirements for ongoing
assessment of export flows
6
• Demonstrate a methodology through the tracking of a defined
subset of electronic products
Progress
Collaboration is
Key
MIT-NCER Second Phase Activities
 Creating stock-flow model, gathering data to
input and incorporate results
 Developed and sent survey to recyclers
 Unique method asks questions and predictions of how
others would answer
 Asks questions about markets, types of companies
doing export, destinations for export
 Different goals/questions from USITC
States With E-Scrap Laws
States highlighted in orange have some
type of electronics recycling law
Key Differences with US
 Only one state with Canada-like fee at sale
 We don’t cover all WEEE – very limited, but growing subset;
policy and in programs
 No federal policy on recycling programs, limited regulations
on disposal and export
 No coordinated data collection mechanism nationally,
incomplete state data
 States have moved policy forward, but differently
 Established voluntary programs along with mandates
25 State Electronics Recycling Laws
2003: California
2004: Maine
2005: Maryland
2006: Washington
2007: Connecticut, Minnesota,
Oregon, Texas, North Carolina
Number of New Laws
10
2008*: New Jersey, Oklahoma,
Virginia, W. Virginia, Missouri, Hawaii,
Rhode Island, Illinois, Michigan
2009: Indiana, Wisconsin
2010: Vermont, South Carolina,
New York, Pennsylvania
2011: Utah
Percentage of Population
Covered by E-Waste Law
8
6
Number of
New Laws
4
2
2009
2007
2005
2003
0
% Covered
% Not Covered
Policy Results
 True patchwork of producer responsibility: goals
(geographic and volume), requirements vary
 Very few “compliance schemes”
 Collection by many actors – some states with very few
municipal collection entities
 16 states with landfill bans, 3 not in “25”
 Lot of competition for recyclers to get manufacturer
contracts
 Up to 300 total unique OEMs, but only 30-50 with
significant obligations
Thank You!
Jason Linnell, NCER
Phone: 1 (304) 699-1008
jlinnell@electronicsrecycling.org
Visit us on the web:
www.electronicsrecycling.org
and www.ecycleclearinghouse.org
CONTACT
StEP Secretariat
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY
Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP)
Operating Unit SCYCLE
53113 Bonn / Germany
+49-228-815-0213/-0214
+49-228-815-0299
www.step-initiative.org
info@step-initiative.org
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