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September 03, 2009

 

Trash or treasure? Discarded U.S. computers often get a second life

More computers discarded by consumers in the United States are getting a second life in developing countries than previously believed, according to a new study –– the most comprehensive ever done on the topic –– reported in ACS’ semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology. The findings may ease growing concerns about environmental pollution with toxic metals that can result from dismantling and recycling computer components in developing countries.

In the study Ramzy Kahhat and Eric Williams focused on the situation in Peru, where Kahhat was born. They used a Peruvian government database that tracks importation of new and used computers and computing equipment. The researchers found that at least 85 percent of computers imported into Peru are reused, rather than going directly into recycling.

The finding challenges the widespread belief that the trade in e-waste was mainly about dumping unusable junk or recycling components is inaccurate, at least for Peru. The U.S. is the source of up to 76 percent of used computers imported to Peru from 2003-2007, the researchers indicated. They note uncertainty on whether the same holds true for other, much larger countries like China and India.

Source: American Chemical Society

 

May 21, 2009

Bill H.R. 2595

Introduced: May 21, 2009

Title: H.R. 2595:

 To restrict certain exports of electronic waste


Summary: Ban on exports of ”restricted e-waste” to the following countries: Not members of OECD or the EU. However, there are some exceptions such as: a) Exports of used electronics or parts to countries that permit the trade, and b)   Equipments or parts tested prior to export and found to be functional for at least one of the primary purposes for which the equipment or parts were designed.

June 4, 2008

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology holds hearing on e-waste

From the hearing charter: “On April 30, 2008 the Committee on Science and Technology will hold a hearing on the management of waste electronic equipment (e-waste) in the United States. Witnesses will discuss industry practices for recycling, refurbishment, re-sale and disposal of electronic products and the challenges associated with end-of-life management of electronic products.

The hearing will also examine the potential of research and development in green design efforts to make recycling easier and decrease the amount of toxic material used in electronic products, as well as in creating frameworks for understanding the economic and environmental impacts of re-use and recycling.

The Committee will hear testimony from six witnesses offering perspectives from the electronics manufacturing sector, the recycling industry, non-profit service provider, and academic research and development. The hearing was held April 30th” .

Follow this link to view information on the hearing, including texts of witness statements and streaming video of the event. (external website).

March 1, 2008

Program available the 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, to be held May 19-21 in San Francisco

The program is available for the event and registration is open. Follow this link for more information (external website).

November 1, 2007

Arizona State University group receives NSF grant to study international reuse and recycling of computers

How can societies around the world manage the end-of-life of computers and other electronics so as to mitigate environmental impacts but at the same time gain social and economic benefits from reuse and recycling? This is the central question addressed in a new project at Arizona State University supported by the National Science Foundation. The project is titled “Assessing and managing the sustainability of global reverse supply chains: the case of personal computers” and launches in October 2007 to run for three years. Click here to view more about the project.

October 1, 2007

Call for Papers: the 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, to be held May 19-21 in San Francisco

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has been organizing this event annually since 1993. It is the premier event for presenting and learning about environmental topics and sustainability as they pertain to Information Technology, both in terms of electronics products and adoption of IT by business and society. Authors from industry, academia, recyclers and consultants are invited to submit papers describing research, applications, tools, and case studies. The deadline for abstracts is November 10, 2007. Follow this link for more information (external website).