Industry Standards for Recycling Electronics
Industry Standards for Recycling Electronics ISACC 38th Plenary Ottawa, January 2008
Environment Becomes Key Issue for Canadian IT & Electronics Firms E-waste a problem that needs action now: ¾ EOL consumer electronics & IT equipment going to Canadian landfills ¾ Potential for toxicity increases if products are not processed responsibly ¾ Material recovery opportunity for use in next generation products ¾ Infrastructure to divert and recycle these products at nascent stage in Canada ¾ Must prevent North America’s e-waste being exported without proper controls
Regulators looking to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as solution Photos from “Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia”. Prepared by Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, February 25, 2002.
2
Industry Takes Responsibility … & Action • Founded Electronics Product Stewardship Canada • Non-profit organization, 100% industry-financed • Mandated to design and develop harmonized stewardship programs for waste electronic products • Working with regulators to implement shared responsibility stewardship model with roles for industry, government, and consumers. • Unique to have industry to step-up and advocate sustainable solutions to regulators 3
EPSC Membership & Founding Associations
4
Status of Selected Provincial Stewardship Programs as of January 2008
BC AB SK Product Packaging End-of Life Electronics
MB
ON QU NB NS PEI NF
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z Regulations currently in place Regulations expected in 2008 Regulations expected in 2009 or later 5
Canadian Electronics Stewardship Programs
6
Responsible Recycling creates Challenges • No clear operating ‘standards’ for WEEE recycling industry in Canada • Canadian electronics recycling industry still in early development stage • WEEE being processed by wide variety of companies, from very small enterprises to large multi-nationals • Some recyclers not fully aware of provincial, federal & international requirements for occupational health & safety, transportation & export, & environmental management • Need for vendor standards designed to help processors operate in Canada – avoids need to export to developing countries
7
Action: Verify Responsible Recycling • EPSC created the Recycling Vendor Qualification Committee (RVQC) • Mandate to develop a process to evaluate electronics recyclers used in EPSC-developed programs • Chaired by Sony, with members from Brother, Canon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo, Panasonic, Sharp • Worked in consultation with broad range of stakeholders, including other manufacturers, governments, recyclers & ENGOs
8
Ensuring the Recycling is done right… • Industry recognized the importance of proper management of electronics at the recycling stage • A common standard was required to ensure an equal level of service from all recyclers used • EPSC created the Recycling Vendor Qualification Program (RVQP) • Enhances provisions of ISO 14001 and addresses specific issues resulting from recycling electronics – Enhanced requirements for Environment, Health & safety – Prohibits use of prison labour – Prohibits shipping material to non-OECD nations – Reinforces downstream accountability of waste
9
Evaluating Electronics Recyclers: two steps & three key documents 1)
Application and screening process – Gather information about their process and all downstream subvendors used to process materials – Confirm permits and insurance are in place, material destination is as indicated
2)
Auditing phase – Certified Environmental Auditor is used to evaluate the applicant and sub-vendors, and confirm compliance to the RVQ Standard – Once compliance is confirmed, the recycler is then able to accept material collected in the EPSC-led, regulated program
10
The Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS) • Establishes basic criteria electronics recyclers must meet • Incorporates concerns and feedback from electronics manufacturers, environmental groups, and electronics recyclers • Goes beyond provisions of ISO 14001 and addresses specific issues resulting from recycling electronics – Enhanced requirements for Environment, Health & safety – Prohibits use of prison labour – Prohibits shipping material to developing/non-OECD countries – Reinforces downstream accountability of waste
11
The RVQP Guidance Document • Developed to serve as an educational document on the environmental, legal, health and safety hazards associated with EOLE • Intent is to provide guidance to recyclers looking to develop environmentally sound recycling processes, and environmental auditors with a knowledge base for conducting assessments of electronics recyclers • Document provides details on: – Material Separation – Substances of Concern – Health Safety and Occupational Hygiene – Transportation and Export – Smelting, Energy Recovery and Disposal – Environmental Management System – Material Processing and End use Acceptability Table 12
Recycler Qualification Process Document • New Recycler Qualification Document will be key to help guide audit decisions related to document vs. on-site audit requirements: – Ensures EOLE and its waste are handled, transported, processed, stored, and recycled in an environmentally sound manner. – Ensures that potentially hazardous components of EOLE are responsibly processed – Tracks the downstream flow of materials through to the point of final processing or disposition to ensure potentially hazardous components of EOLE are not sent to developing nations
13
Experience to date with Primary Recyclers • Most have fully embraced the standard & process • Notable environmental health & safety improvements made at primary recyclers • Have been able to control downstream flow of materials • Audit process is time consuming & has constrained flow of material until audit issues resolved
14
Primary Recyclers (con’t) • A number of recyclers felt their process could meet requirements but evaluation of their operations as outlined in their proposals revealed they did not – most have not fully mapped their downstream flow or evaluated those vendors – general lack of understanding of requirements for permits, health & safety programs, transportation & exporting – most had not used the standard or Guidance Document as tools to setup or evaluate their recycling processes
15
Experience to date with Downstream Processors • No hazardous materials being exported to developing nations or processed using prison labour • Most primes have been fairly receptive to audit process • Downstreams not as receptive as the primary recyclers because they have minimal commercial interests at stake or did not understand importance or benefit of the audit • Mapping downstream flow identified numerous downstream processors located throughout the world, adding costs to audit process
16
RVQP Impact & Reach • An original draft of the program was tested during a project between EPSC and Computers for Schools • A version of the standard was adopted by Electronics Recycling Alberta (ERA) at their program launch • RVQP is front and centre in industry-led stewardship plans in BC, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia • Discussions have begun with leading standards organizations to move RVQP to become a national standard • EPSC members have committed to use RVQP (or better) for their own take-back and recycling programs in Canada
17
NGOs think we are on the right path… • "EPSC is a good example of how OEMs in Canada are taking steps to address issues of toxicity and recyclability. We applaud the recycling standards EPSC has defined for responsible management of recycled equipment.“ – Sarah Westervelt, Basel Action Network, November 2006
• "...In Canada, I’m happy to say that the corporations for the TV and computer manufacturers have joined forces with something called Electronic Product Stewardship Canada. This is a new corporation which is helping the provinces actually write legislation. They want to see an industry led solution to electronic waste in Canada...“ – Bev Thorpe, Clean Production Action, June 2006
18
Moving Forward – Improving the Process 3 Improved Communication: Outlining the need for the program & benefits it brings to their business 3 Greater Primary Involvement: Primary recyclers are now developing their own internal assessment program to facilitate the audit process 3 Commitment to an Evergreen Process: Recognize that the recycling of electronics is a quickly changing arena, and the standard and processes related to it must be revisited and revamped regularly.
19
www.epsc.ca/recycle
20
Environment Becomes Key Issue for Canadian IT & Electronics Firms E-waste a problem that needs action now: ¾ EOL consumer electronics & IT equipment going to Canadian landfills ¾ Potential for toxicity increases if products are not processed responsibly ¾ Material recovery opportunity for use in next generation products ¾ Infrastructure to divert and recycle these products at nascent stage in Canada ¾ Must prevent North America’s e-waste being exported without proper controls
Regulators looking to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as solution Photos from “Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia”. Prepared by Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, February 25, 2002.
2
Industry Takes Responsibility … & Action • Founded Electronics Product Stewardship Canada • Non-profit organization, 100% industry-financed • Mandated to design and develop harmonized stewardship programs for waste electronic products • Working with regulators to implement shared responsibility stewardship model with roles for industry, government, and consumers. • Unique to have industry to step-up and advocate sustainable solutions to regulators 3
EPSC Membership & Founding Associations
4
Status of Selected Provincial Stewardship Programs as of January 2008
BC AB SK Product Packaging End-of Life Electronics
MB
ON QU NB NS PEI NF
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z Regulations currently in place Regulations expected in 2008 Regulations expected in 2009 or later 5
Canadian Electronics Stewardship Programs
6
Responsible Recycling creates Challenges • No clear operating ‘standards’ for WEEE recycling industry in Canada • Canadian electronics recycling industry still in early development stage • WEEE being processed by wide variety of companies, from very small enterprises to large multi-nationals • Some recyclers not fully aware of provincial, federal & international requirements for occupational health & safety, transportation & export, & environmental management • Need for vendor standards designed to help processors operate in Canada – avoids need to export to developing countries
7
Action: Verify Responsible Recycling • EPSC created the Recycling Vendor Qualification Committee (RVQC) • Mandate to develop a process to evaluate electronics recyclers used in EPSC-developed programs • Chaired by Sony, with members from Brother, Canon, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo, Panasonic, Sharp • Worked in consultation with broad range of stakeholders, including other manufacturers, governments, recyclers & ENGOs
8
Ensuring the Recycling is done right… • Industry recognized the importance of proper management of electronics at the recycling stage • A common standard was required to ensure an equal level of service from all recyclers used • EPSC created the Recycling Vendor Qualification Program (RVQP) • Enhances provisions of ISO 14001 and addresses specific issues resulting from recycling electronics – Enhanced requirements for Environment, Health & safety – Prohibits use of prison labour – Prohibits shipping material to non-OECD nations – Reinforces downstream accountability of waste
9
Evaluating Electronics Recyclers: two steps & three key documents 1)
Application and screening process – Gather information about their process and all downstream subvendors used to process materials – Confirm permits and insurance are in place, material destination is as indicated
2)
Auditing phase – Certified Environmental Auditor is used to evaluate the applicant and sub-vendors, and confirm compliance to the RVQ Standard – Once compliance is confirmed, the recycler is then able to accept material collected in the EPSC-led, regulated program
10
The Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS) • Establishes basic criteria electronics recyclers must meet • Incorporates concerns and feedback from electronics manufacturers, environmental groups, and electronics recyclers • Goes beyond provisions of ISO 14001 and addresses specific issues resulting from recycling electronics – Enhanced requirements for Environment, Health & safety – Prohibits use of prison labour – Prohibits shipping material to developing/non-OECD countries – Reinforces downstream accountability of waste
11
The RVQP Guidance Document • Developed to serve as an educational document on the environmental, legal, health and safety hazards associated with EOLE • Intent is to provide guidance to recyclers looking to develop environmentally sound recycling processes, and environmental auditors with a knowledge base for conducting assessments of electronics recyclers • Document provides details on: – Material Separation – Substances of Concern – Health Safety and Occupational Hygiene – Transportation and Export – Smelting, Energy Recovery and Disposal – Environmental Management System – Material Processing and End use Acceptability Table 12
Recycler Qualification Process Document • New Recycler Qualification Document will be key to help guide audit decisions related to document vs. on-site audit requirements: – Ensures EOLE and its waste are handled, transported, processed, stored, and recycled in an environmentally sound manner. – Ensures that potentially hazardous components of EOLE are responsibly processed – Tracks the downstream flow of materials through to the point of final processing or disposition to ensure potentially hazardous components of EOLE are not sent to developing nations
13
Experience to date with Primary Recyclers • Most have fully embraced the standard & process • Notable environmental health & safety improvements made at primary recyclers • Have been able to control downstream flow of materials • Audit process is time consuming & has constrained flow of material until audit issues resolved
14
Primary Recyclers (con’t) • A number of recyclers felt their process could meet requirements but evaluation of their operations as outlined in their proposals revealed they did not – most have not fully mapped their downstream flow or evaluated those vendors – general lack of understanding of requirements for permits, health & safety programs, transportation & exporting – most had not used the standard or Guidance Document as tools to setup or evaluate their recycling processes
15
Experience to date with Downstream Processors • No hazardous materials being exported to developing nations or processed using prison labour • Most primes have been fairly receptive to audit process • Downstreams not as receptive as the primary recyclers because they have minimal commercial interests at stake or did not understand importance or benefit of the audit • Mapping downstream flow identified numerous downstream processors located throughout the world, adding costs to audit process
16
RVQP Impact & Reach • An original draft of the program was tested during a project between EPSC and Computers for Schools • A version of the standard was adopted by Electronics Recycling Alberta (ERA) at their program launch • RVQP is front and centre in industry-led stewardship plans in BC, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia • Discussions have begun with leading standards organizations to move RVQP to become a national standard • EPSC members have committed to use RVQP (or better) for their own take-back and recycling programs in Canada
17
NGOs think we are on the right path… • "EPSC is a good example of how OEMs in Canada are taking steps to address issues of toxicity and recyclability. We applaud the recycling standards EPSC has defined for responsible management of recycled equipment.“ – Sarah Westervelt, Basel Action Network, November 2006
• "...In Canada, I’m happy to say that the corporations for the TV and computer manufacturers have joined forces with something called Electronic Product Stewardship Canada. This is a new corporation which is helping the provinces actually write legislation. They want to see an industry led solution to electronic waste in Canada...“ – Bev Thorpe, Clean Production Action, June 2006
18
Moving Forward – Improving the Process 3 Improved Communication: Outlining the need for the program & benefits it brings to their business 3 Greater Primary Involvement: Primary recyclers are now developing their own internal assessment program to facilitate the audit process 3 Commitment to an Evergreen Process: Recognize that the recycling of electronics is a quickly changing arena, and the standard and processes related to it must be revisited and revamped regularly.
19
www.epsc.ca/recycle
20
