Consumer Electronic Waste

E-waste







Community POWER Grantee Meeting
October 15, 2008
1. The Problem
What is e-waste?
Environmental concerns
Trends driving growth

2. Minnesota Solutions
Minnesota Electronics
Recycling Act

3. How Can You Help?
Raise awareness
Promote recycling
opportunities


Presentation Outline
What is E-waste?

Any waste that has a
circuit board or cathode ray tube (CRT)


Minnesotas definition includes:
Televisions
Computers:
central processing units (CPUs), monitors, laptops
Computer keyboards, speakers, printers, and other peripherals
VCRs and DVD players
Fax machines
from HOUSEHOLDS
What are the Environmental
Concerns?


Key contaminants:
Lead in CRTs & circuit
boards
Cadmium in contacts &
switches
Brominated flame
retardants in plastics
Hazards to human
health and the
environment if
improperly managed.
Growth of E-waste:
Technology Trends

Technological advances speed up obsolescence &
lead to more e-waste
PC lifespan falling to estimated 2 years
Improved TVs/monitors: HD, LCD, plasma
Digital television transition set for
Feb. 17, 2009

Growth of E-waste:
Digital Television Transition

If you use rabbit ears or rooftop
antenna with an analog TV, you must act.
Options:
Buy a converter box to plug into your TV
Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service
Buy a TV with a digital tuner
For more information, see:
www.dtv.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.dtvanswers.com
www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com


Minnesota Solutions


Minnesota Solution: CRT Disposal Ban
2003 Session: Prohibition passes

Effective July 1, 2005, a person may not
place in mixed municipal solid waste an
electronic product containing a cathode-
ray tube.

Minn. Statute 115A.9565
Passed in the 2007 Session
Began July 1, 2007
Manufacturer Responsibility based on sales weight
Not based on return share or consumer fees on products
as in other states
Requires registration and reporting by all parties
involved
Manufacturers, Collectors, Recyclers and Retailers
Minnesota Solution:
Electronics Recycling Act
What Can You Do?
Raise Awareness
Promote Recycling Opportunities
SWMCB developed a tool kit to help municipalities,
counties, and other entities promote e-waste
recycling to residents.

Tool kit includes:
8 images
3 advertisement templates
2 utility bill insert templates
4 articles
Top 10 Facts and Top Questions from Residents

E-Waste Tool Kit

SWMCBs Key Messages & Strategies
1. Easy & convenient
Many recycling locations in the Twin Cities
Find sites at GreenGuardian.com
Key Messages & Strategies
2. De-clutter
Motivate people to get rid
of, clean out
3. Use trigger events
Holidays, Super Bowl,
back-to-school



Key Messages & Strategies
What are the Tools?
Advertising Templates
What are the tools?
Free Images to Download
What are the tools?
Fact sheets & Articles
Terminology
Top 10 Facts
Top Questions from
Residents
Recycle Your
Electronics
Clean out Your
Clutter
The Super Bowl
Web articles
Where can households recycle e-waste?
Lists of collection sites are available at:

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
www.pca.state.mn.us/electronics

Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board
www.greenguardian.com

Hennepin County Environmental Services
www.hennepin.us
keyword search: a to z. Click on electronics.

What to do before you recycle
Identity and other personal information can be
stolen from a computer, cell phone, or other data
storage devices.

Before recycling your electronics, protect yourself
from identity theft by removing personal data and
your files.

For information on how to remove data, check with
the manufacturer, the recycler, or search the
Internet.
Comments & Questions?



Amy Roering
Hennepin County
(612) 348-8992
amy.roering@co.hennepin.mn.us
www.hennepin.us