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Consumer Electronic Waste

E-waste

Community POWER Grantee Meeting


October 15, 2008

Presentation Outline
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

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 B


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

Minnesota Solution:
Electronics Recycling Act
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

What Can You Do?


Raise Awareness
Promote Recycling
Opportunities

E-Waste Tool Kit


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

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

Key Messages & Strategies


3. Use trigger
events

Holidays, Super
Bowl, back-toschool

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 ewaste?


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

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