P R O D U C T S T E W A R D S H I P U P D A T E S NEWS BRIEFS ON WORLDWIDE PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 | VOLUME 3, ISSUE 17
UNITED STATES
BASEL ACTION NETWORK RELEASES STANDARDS FOR E-RECYCLER CERTIFICATION
The Basel Action Network (BAN) has released a set of standards for its accredited certification program for electronics recyclers. The E-Steward Initiative will go into effect in early 2010 and will prevent the export of electronics scrap to developing countries, in addition to outlining safe practices for product refurbishment and the handling of toxic materials. Under the certification program, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board will provide accreditation for the third-party certifying bodies responsible for performing audits of electronics recyclers. Recyclers that meet the standards and have signed the Electronic Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship are featured on the E-Stewards website, a valuable resource for consumers and businesses looking to recycle their electronics in an environmentally friendly manner. New e-Steward standards prevent export The e-Stewards Initiative Website 24 August 2009 Waste and Recycling News
HIGH DEMAND FOR HYBRID VEHICLES SPURS BATTERY RECYCLING EFFORTS
As automakers around the world continue developing hybrid and electric vehicles, some environmental groups are raising concerns about proper recycling of the large nickel metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries used to power the new generation of fuel-efficient cars. Though the need to recycle these batteries in considerable volumes likely will not be realized for a decade or so due to battery lifespan, some companies have already begun planning their collection and recycling operations. Nippon Mining & Metals Co. and Gs Yuasa Corp., both based in Japan, have developed technology to recycle lithium from lithium-ion batteries and plan to have trial plants open and operating by 2011. In the United States, the Department of Energy recently offered a $9.5 million grant to Toxco, North America’s leading battery recycler, to build the country’s first recycling facility for lithium-ion vehicle batteries in response to the rapid growth anticipated in the electric car market in the coming years. Birth of Industry to Recycle Lithium Auto Batteries 28 August 2009 HybridCars.com
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CHARGED $500K TO CLEAN UP HOSPITAL WASTE
Under an agreement settled on August 18th, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Eastern Kansas Health Care System has been penalized over $50,000 and charged an additional $500,000 to address the proper management of pharmaceutical and chemical wastes at two of its hospitals. The civil penalty and settlement come in light of a three-count complaint filed by EPA in January of this year concerning a series of hazardous waste management violations observed at hospitals in Leavenworth and Topeka in 2006. The complaint accused DVA of operating a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility without a permit, offering hazardous waste to an unregistered transporter, and offering hazardous waste to a transporter without providing a manifest. In addition to the $51,501 civil penalty, the DVA is responsible for spending no less than $482,069 to help employees identify, sort, and manage pharmaceutical and chemical wastes in the hospital environment. Health care system to spend $500k on managing wastes 20 August 2009 Waste and Recycling News
EUROPE
EUROPE BEGINS PHASE-OUT OF INCANDESCENT BULBS
Retail shops are no longer permitted to order or import incandescent frosted glass light bulbs under a new European Union rule that took effect on September 1st. The phase-out of incandescent bulbs in order to promote the use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent models is part of the E.U.’s latest efforts to conserve energy on a continent-wide scale and mitigate the effects of global warming. Retailers are free to sell off their remaining stock of the prohibited models, and the ban currently does not apply to clear incandescent bulbs. News of the mandatory switch has been received with mixed reviews, as some are eager to lower their household energy costs while others have expressed displeasure with the higher retail price and the lower aesthetic qualities of the light produced by fluorescent bulbs. The E.U. is not the first to enact the ban, which has already been instituted in Australia and Cuba. The United States is on schedule to begin the phase-out in 2012. Europe’s Ban on Old-Style Bulbs Begins 1 September 2009 The New York Times
INDIA
INDIA NEARING APPROVAL OF LANDMARK E-WASTE LEGISLATION
The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests is currently putting the final touches on what appears to be the world’s strictest set of rules regarding electronic waste disposal and recycling. The “E-waste Management and Handling Rules” would hold manufacturers of electronic equipment personally responsible for the safe disposal of their products at end-of-life. Greenpeace International has partnered with India’s Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT) in preparing the legislation currently under review, aiming to enforce mandatory take-back policies and encourage toxic chemical phase-outs. A 2008 estimate by the country’s electronics industry reported that over 380,000 tons of e-waste is produced annually, a figure that is expected to reach 1.6 million in the next three years. Whereas manufacturers represent the first level of responsibility
PS News Updates 2 September 3, 2009 | Volume 3, Issue 17 for managing a product through its life cycle, electronics dealers and retailers must cooperate with the system by providing convenient collection locations under the permission of a designated authority. The rules also set a complete ban on the import of electronic equipment for dismantling, recycling, and disposal. Electronics in working condition and available for refurbishment are still permitted for import. India prepares strictest rules on disposing of e-waste 18 August 2009 The Economic Times
PS News Updates 3 September 3, 2009 | Volume 3, Issue 17