Pollution Prevention (P2): Recycling Electronics Responsibly

Are you wondering what to do with your old electronics? America's growing use of electronics has created a new environmental challenge: electronic waste, or e-waste.

What is Considered E-waste?

The following unusable electronics are considered e-waste:

Audio and Stereo Equipment
Cellular Phones
Computers and Computer Peripherals
Telephones, Fax and Copying Machines
Televisions and Monitors
VCRs and DVD Players
Video Cameras
Video Game Consoles
Wireless Devices

What's the Problem?

Electronic equipment contain toxic compounds such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
These toxic compounds can leach into the soil and water supplies or contaminate our air, if electronics are sent to landfills or incinerated.
Discarded electronics, called e-waste, are the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S. By 2010 over 3 billion electronics will be scrapped or an average of about 400 million units a year¹.
Currently, less than 25% of obsolete electronics are being recycled². And the majority of the electronics collected for recycling or re-use are exported to developing countries with no worker safety or environmental programs in places³.
Local governments are spending more of their limited tax dollars managing e-waste.

References:

1. International Association of Electronics Recyclers Industry Report, 2006

2. Electronic Waste Management in the United States, Approach 1, Table 3.1 EPA530-R-08-009 US Environmental Protection Agency, July 2008. Available

3. Electronic TakeBack Coalition and Basel Action Network

What are the Options for Safely Recycling My Electronics?

Choose a Responsible Recycler

The e-Steward Certification program is a new certification program that was developed by a group of North American electronics recyclers in association with The Basel Action Network (BAN) and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. The e-Steward certification program is an independently audited and accredited electronic waste recycler certification program that forbids the dumping of toxic e-waste in developing countries, local landfills and incinerators; the use of prison labor; and the unauthorized release of private data.

EPA's Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers is a set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers' environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has developed the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) certification that establishes best management practices for the industry.

The Recycling Coalition of Utah (RCU) is a coalition of municipalities, businesses, institutions, and individuals committed to improving recycling in Utah.

Questions to Ask Potential Recyclers

If you want to use a local recycler but are unsure of their recycling policies, use the Electronic Industries Alliance's checklist to help determine if your devices will be handled responsibly.

How Can I Be a Responsible Consumer?

How to Buy Greener Electronics

Greater awareness about the end-of-life issues with electronics has resulted in the development of tools, such as EPA's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), to help purchasers evaluate laptops, desktop computers, and monitors using environmental standards, such as Environmentally Sensitive Materials, Materials Selection, Design for End-of-Life, Product Longevity, Energy Use, End-of-Life Management, Packaging, and Corporate Performance.

Manufacturer TakeBack Programs

Keep in mind the end-of-life costs when you are shopping for electronics. Some manufacturers are offering TakeBack programs that provide "cradle to grave" management for their products which includes taking back and recycling their products. TakeBack programs create an incentive to the manufacturers to design for recycling, increase the use of recycled materials, and decrease the use of toxic materials. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition provides a list of manufacturers that offer TakeBack programs; just click on "Corporate Responsibility." The Electronics TakeBack Coalition is a national coalition of organizations promoting sustainable and responsible practices throughout the electronics industry.

What is Happening Locally?

2009 Electronic Waste Resolution

The Recycling Coalition of Utah's Electronic Waste Steering Committee initiated the 2009 Electronic Waste Resolution for the State of Utah that outlines the issues involving electronic waste in Utah. The Resolution passed both chambers in the 2009 General Session. The Electronic Waste Steering Committee will continue to work with stakeholders, including the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality, to collaboratively assess the electronic waste issues in Utah, review electronic recycling activities of other states, and develop recommendations that can be implemented in Utah. By October 31, 2009, the DEQ will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

What Businesses Recycle Electronics in Utah?

The following list of Utah electronics recyclers is provided as a courtesy and not as an endorsement nor a recommendation by the Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste.

Salt Lake Valley Recycling Guide
Salt Lake County maintains this list of electronics recyclers.
Earth911
Up-to-date information on where to recycle electronics.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
RBRC provides information on where to recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones.

Electronics Recyclers

A&D Computer Recycling and Metals
PO Box 651645
South Salt Lake City, Utah 84165
Contact: Devin Keith
Phone: 801-638-0708
E-mail

Electronic Recycling Solutions
135 S. Lodestone Way, STE4
Tooele, Utah 84074
Phone: 435-494-1377
Contact: Scott Campbell: 801-821-6446
E-mail

Techcycle
1499 South 700 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Contact: Bill Bailey: 801-908-7008
Mobile: 801-913-7526
E-mail

Lucency Corporation
1875 West 1500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104-3801
Phone: 801-364-4733

Metech Recycling
2350 West Bridger Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Contact: Trevor Hansen: 801-886-3022
GRX has the State of Utah contract for electronics recycling; number MA2029. (To view the contract, scroll down to MA2029, click on View.

SBK Recycle
1745 Milestone Drive, Suite B2
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: 801-859-9702
E-mail

Stone Castle Recycling
Freeport Center, Building D-3
Clearfield, Utah 84015
Phone: 801-825-2422 | Toll Free: 1-866-731-9444 | Fax: 801-731-2914
E-mail

TAM Solutions
224 South 1060 West
Lindon, Utah 84042
Contacts: Jason Dye, Brad Morley, or Curtis Nelson
Phone: 801-796-1696 | Fax: 801-406-0034
E-mail

Waste Management of Utah
2433 South 2050 West
Ogden, UT 84401
801-731-5052

Waste Management of Utah
8652 South 4000 West
West Jordan, UT 84088
801-282-8200

Waste Management of Utah
1177 South 1580 West
Orem, UT 84058
801-785-3000

Endorsement Disclaimer

Reference to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or to any trade, firm, or corporation is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Utah, or its officers, employees or agents. Any list of organizations providing services that may be of interest to the public is not intended to be a complete list and is not regularly updated.

For more information on Electronics Recycling, please contact :

Pat Sheehan
Environmental Scientist
DEQ, Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste
Phone: 801-536-0248

Contact Paul Harding (801-536-4108) for further information on the content of this page.

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