EPA Support of E-Waste Standard May Set Off Competing Programs

Date: June 14, 2010

Source: News Room

The US EPA said it now backs the e-Stewards certification for recycling electronic waste (e-waste) in addition to supporting its own Responsible Recyclers (R2) program. The action moves the debate between the two competing standards to the recycling marketplace and pits recyclers against activists. E-stewards is a standard developed by activist group Basel Action Network (BAN), which has long been critical of the export of e-waste to foreign countries where it is often mishandled in manner that is dangerous to human health and the environment.

"EPA supports and will continue to push for further safe and protective recycling efforts and encourage improvement in best management practices for recyclers. There are existing recycling certification programs, such as R2 and e-Stewards that EPA believes advance environmentally safe practices and includes standards for use in third-party certification of such efforts," according to the EPA. Last month, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson spoke at an INTERPOL e-waste meeting and called for new regulations and legislation to limit exports of e-waste and urged work toward ratifying the Basel Convention on hazardous waste trade. Activists are concerned however, that she stopped short of advocating a total ban on exports.

The recycling and electronics industry generally supports R2, having participated in its development under EPA guidance. Activists also participated but then abandoned the effort arguing that it did not go far enough and did not prohibit the disposal, incineration and export of some hazardous materials. That led BAN to develop its own e-Stewards certification program that it administers and which is financed from fees paid by companies that are certified.

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