Rebooting E-Waste Attitudes in the U.S.
WMW chief editor Tom Freyberg looks at what the launch of a new e-waste strategy could mean for America, where each year almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics are generated…
July, August and the middle of summer (if you can call it that here in the UK) are normally tough months for the waste management sector. Increased temperatures usually exacerbate fears and criticisms, sometimes fictional, over odours from waste collections and treatment. Fictitious and over exaggerated pongs aside, this month also saw an e-waste strategy launched in the U.S.
The Obama Administration?s National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship aims to drive the federal government in developing sustainable electronic products. It will also direct federal agencies to buy, use and reuse their electronics responsibly. Support will also be provided for American consumers to help direct their redundant products towards recycling infrastructure.
Such regulatory changes could not come soon enough. The Environmental Protection Agency boasts that the U.S. is, and will continue to be, a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies.
This is clear to see from certain fruitful U.S. firms. No sooner have consumers invested in the latest mobile phone, mp3 player or iPad than a new edition comes out. Clever, targeted marketing makes individuals feel they are missing out on the next models, even if the addition is only a few milometres thinner! But this fast paced innovation comes at a price. Americans own nearly three billion electronic products and each year almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics are generated. Years ago, before the mobile phone revolution, the thought of households owning one mobile phone was extraordinary. Now it?s common for households, and people within those households, to have multiple mobile phones, both working and redundant.
The electronics stewardship strategy is quite clearly needed but perhaps a little late to the game. Previously, several states have banned e-waste from landfill with many others considering legislation. This plan has come to fruition but only after years in the works. As part of the announcement, a voluntary agreement was signed by manufacturers Dell, Sony and Sprint. These brands will be encouraged to produce environmentally friendly design of electronic goods,
but the key word here to note is ?voluntary?.
It is hoped these changes will prevent the exportation of broken electronics, otherwise known as ?waste trafficking?. This topic recently made the headlines again so for this yearly, bumper buyer?s guide issue we invited ISWA president Jeff Cooper to share his thoughts on how the association is clamping down on this problem. Open the July-August issue of Waste Management World magazine to read more.
July, August and the middle of summer (if you can call it that here in the UK) are normally tough months for the waste management sector. Increased temperatures usually exacerbate fears and criticisms, sometimes fictional, over odours from waste collections and treatment. Fictitious and over exaggerated pongs aside, this month also saw an e-waste strategy launched in the U.S.
The Obama Administration?s National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship aims to drive the federal government in developing sustainable electronic products. It will also direct federal agencies to buy, use and reuse their electronics responsibly. Support will also be provided for American consumers to help direct their redundant products towards recycling infrastructure.
Such regulatory changes could not come soon enough. The Environmental Protection Agency boasts that the U.S. is, and will continue to be, a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies.
This is clear to see from certain fruitful U.S. firms. No sooner have consumers invested in the latest mobile phone, mp3 player or iPad than a new edition comes out. Clever, targeted marketing makes individuals feel they are missing out on the next models, even if the addition is only a few milometres thinner! But this fast paced innovation comes at a price. Americans own nearly three billion electronic products and each year almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics are generated. Years ago, before the mobile phone revolution, the thought of households owning one mobile phone was extraordinary. Now it?s common for households, and people within those households, to have multiple mobile phones, both working and redundant.
The electronics stewardship strategy is quite clearly needed but perhaps a little late to the game. Previously, several states have banned e-waste from landfill with many others considering legislation. This plan has come to fruition but only after years in the works. As part of the announcement, a voluntary agreement was signed by manufacturers Dell, Sony and Sprint. These brands will be encouraged to produce environmentally friendly design of electronic goods,
but the key word here to note is ?voluntary?.
It is hoped these changes will prevent the exportation of broken electronics, otherwise known as ?waste trafficking?. This topic recently made the headlines again so for this yearly, bumper buyer?s guide issue we invited ISWA president Jeff Cooper to share his thoughts on how the association is clamping down on this problem. Open the July-August issue of Waste Management World magazine to read more.
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