May 2005 Newsletter
California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program
Waste Tire Recovery Bill Hits Roadblock
Association of Oregon Recyclers Conference
Gardeners: Recycle Your Plastic Flower Pots!
SCRAP Happenings
In Brief: Oregon Bills and More
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California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program
The Advance Recovery System next door
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) recently released
an update on the implementation of the state's Electronic Waste Recycling Program
that went into effect last year. The program sets up an advance recovery fee
(ARF) system for the collection of between $6 and $10 on most televisions, computer
monitors, and laptop computers depending on size. Retailers collect a fee on
covered electronics items. The fee is then remitted to the Board of Equalization
(BOE), which is, in part, responsible for implementing the program.
According to the report, the BOE has registered 3,251 retailers to date representing over 10,000 locations (for example Wal-Mart counts as one registrant, but it has hundreds of locations in the state.) According to the report, fee collection seems to be going fairly smoothly judging from the small number of complaints or concerns expressed by consumers or retailers. Several retailers posted the CIWMB's point of purchase ads on their covered devices on January 1, 2005. One challenge that many retailers have pointed out is that they did not receive appropriate notification from manufacturers as required in the Act. CIWMB and Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) are working with manufacturers to improve their retailer notification this year. The CIWMB and the BOE have worked through the California Retailers Association and the CA Chambers of Commerce to provide information on the Act directly to retailers.
E-waste collection improves
The update notes that California's e-waste collection and recycling infrastructure
has grown due to the legislation. The collection and recycling entities include
voluntary participants and represent a diverse group of businesses including
non-profits organizations (Goodwill), landfills, local governments and computer
repair and recycling centers. Through their inspections of recycling facilities
DTSC has found that more facilities are operating in compliance with environmental
standards than ever before. The report adds that California now has 157 approved
electronic waste collectors and 31 approved electronic waste recyclers.
Documentation for payment claims problematic
According to the report, claims for 2,275,521 pounds of covered electronic waste
have been received. This represents $1,092,250 in payments, if all of the material
is found to be eligible and payment claims are determined to be complete and
verifiable. The claims have been primarily for collecting and recycling CRT
TVs and Monitors. Laptops and LCD monitors represent a small percentage. There
have been challenges with recyclers submitting complete and verifiable payment
claims. Documenting the source of the covered electronic waste has proven problematic.
It is vital that the CIWMB protect the integrity of the ARF fund by ensuring
that claims are only approved for eligible material, that is material generated
by a California source as defined in regulation. Many recyclers have failed
to provide adequate documentation. The CIWMB is working with each recycler to
submit the proper documentation so we can approve claims for payment.
Internet sales remain a concern: Both the CIWMB and the Board of Equalization claim that the majority of Internet and catalogue retailers are participating in the California Electronic Waste Recycling Program. The report notes that the CIWMB will not be able to track and collect the fee from individual consumers who purchase covered devices from services such as E-Bay, but adds that the consumer is still responsible for paying the fee as mandated by the law. The update concludes that the BOE will be able to enforce fee payment on large consumers such as businesses if they purchase covered electronic devices from out of state retailers for use in California.
Outreach resources
The update notes a list of approved e-waste collectors and recyclers is available
at
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics/Act2003/Recovery/Approved. Public education
materials including downloadable point of purchase ads and banners have been
developed and can be accessed at
http://www.erecycle.org/media.htm. The Board of Equalization
has established a toll-free hotline for e-waste related questions, along with
a web site containing Frequently Asked Questions that can be accessed at
http://www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/ewfaqs.htm.
The Department of Toxics Substances Control web site
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/CRTs/SB20.html
also contains information on covered devices, hazardous waste management standards,
and regulatory requirements.
Source: CIWMB Update on the Implementation of the Electronic Waste Recycling Program in California
Waste Tire Recovery Bill Hits Roadblock
House Bill 2906 stalls in committee
Representative Greg Macpherson's (Lake Oswego) House Bill 2906 did not receive a hearing in the Business, Labor, and Consumer Affairs Committee. MacPherson's bill addressed Oregon’s dropping waste tire recovery rate. It would have:
- Established Waste Tire Recycling Board.
- Directed board to develop and administer tire recycling program.
- Imposed fee on retail sale of new tires.
- Directed revenue from fees to Waste Tire Recycling Fund.
- Specified purpose of Waste Tire Recycling Fund.
- Continuously appropriated moneys in Waste Tire Recycling Fund to Waste Tire
Recycling Board.
The bill stalled in the Business, Labor, and Consumer Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Representative Alan Brown, owner of Alan Brown Les Schwab Tire Center in Newport. Recycling Advocates sent out an Action Alert in April to members to contact their representatives and the members of the Business, Labor, and Consumer Affairs Committee to urge them to support the bill and bring it for a vote in the Oregon House.
Background
In 1995 and 1996, waste tire recovery rates for Oregon peaked at 98%. Much of
the improvement in scrap tire recovery was attributed to programs supported
by the Waste Tire Recycling Account that was funded by a $1 fee on each new
tire sold at retail. When the tire fee sunset in 1992, tire stockpiles were
fast disappearing. The tire recovery rate continued to increase until 1997 when
the state lost a major tire fuel market in Lewiston, Idaho due to violations
of the Clean Air Act. Simultaneously, scrap tires began to flow into Oregon
from neighboring states. While scrap tires from Oregon were utilized by other
market outlets, the combination of a lack of sufficient markets for tire recycling
and the increasing importation of tires from out of state forced the Oregon's
recovery rate to fall to a mere 32% in 2000. Landfills quickly emerged as a
"low-cost" option for scrap tires. In response to the plummeting tire recovery
rate, Metro proposed in 2001 legislation to create a market development program
for scrap tires, funded through a fee on retail tire sales.
Recycling Advocates supported this legislation that tire retailers strongly opposed. The debate led to compromise legislation that created the Task Force on Tire Recycling. We covered the task force's report in the December 2002 newsletter. The issue of tire waste remains a concern to citizens concerned about waste prevention, recycling, and the environment. During the next legislative session, we can likely look forward to another attempt to pass a waste tire recovery measure.
Association of Oregon Recyclers Conference
“Recycle Brand Oregon” takes place in June
AOR’s Education and Recycling Conferences are being held back-to-back at Eagle Crest Resort in Central
Oregon this year.
AOR members who register by June 10, can receive admission to both conferences for $295. Non-member registration is $350 for both conferences.
Education Conference on Thursday, June 23
The bulk of the Education Conference is made up of breakout sessions and special
workshops for all participants. Other highlights from the event will include:
• Self-guided tour of Eagle Crest’s recycling program
• Continental breakfast & lunch buffet
• Educational displays and swap table - bring items to trade!
• Environmental book sale by Bend Book Barn
• Oregon Green Schools coordinators meeting
• Recycle Chat & Chew
Welcoming Reception Annual Recycling Conference,
Friday June 24 through June 25
The keynote speaker for the Recycling Conference will be David Sarasohn of the
Oregonian. Bill Lunch of OPB and OSU will give a local and national legislative
overview. The event features breakout sessions and an electronics recycling
workshop. There will be the trade show, Junk Art Challenge and annual awards
banquet as in past years. For more information, go to
http://www.aorr.org or call (503) 233-3056.
Gardeners: Recycle Your Plastic Flower Pots!
Pilot project runs through July 31
Cracked Pots, Agri-plas, Inc., Far West Fibers, Inc., PGE, and the Portland
Recycling Center are collaborating on a project to collect used plant containers
made of plastic (i.e., flower pots and nursery trays). Seven locations are receiving
the containers. Far West Fibers locations in the Metro area: 12820 NE Marx St.,
Portland (503) 255-2299 55 SE 28th Ave., Portland (503) 238-1640 6440 SE Alexander
St., Hillsboro (503) 643-9944 10750 SW Denny Road, Beaverton (503) 643-9944
The following Portland Recycling Center locations also accept plastic pots.
1520 NW Quimby St., Portland 2005 N. Portland Boulevard, Portland 341 Foothills
Road, Lake Oswego.
For directions and hours of operation, call the Portland Recycling Center at (503) 228-5375.
Arts, Culture, and Politics
Third Thursday at SCRAP! Craftin’ Cinema at
7:00 p.m.
There’s first Thursday, Last Thursday...why not Third Thursday? Each month SCRAP
shows a film on a variety of topics relating to consumer culture, the environment,
and whatever else tickles our fancy. Bring your craft projects, a snack or beverage
if you feel so inclined, sit back and craft while you watch. After the film,
hang out, create, discuss, mingle, and mobilize.
Last Thursday Art Walk on Alberta
Visit SCRAP’s Gallery at Keystone Mortgage (5018 NE 22nd Ave, half block off
Alberta) Rotating artists each month, specializing in pieces made with reused
materials.
For more information, contact Teri at teri@scrapaction.org or (503) 294-0769.
In Brief: Oregon Bills and More
Oregon’s E-Waste Bill makes progress
The e-waste bill SB 740 passed out of the Senate Environment Committee in late April on a straight party line vote. The bill will now be sent to the Ways and Means committee. A major challenge is to get Republicans to see the wisdom in supporting the bill. The number of electronics manufacturers who support the Advance Recovery Fee and Oregon’s bill continues to grow. Apple and Canon have recently been added to the list of supporters. Recycling Advocates will continue to send out Action Alerts regarding this landmark bill. Download the Fact Sheet on Oregon’s electronics stewardship Senate Bill 740.
Senate Bill 866 (Bottle Bill overhaul) update
The revision to Oregon’s Bottle Bill that we reported on last month appears
not to have made it out of committee. The good news is that the Association
of Oregon Recyclers is sponsoring a consensus building project to develop a
stakeholder driven update of Oregon’s Bottle Bill for the 2007 legislative session.
Carrying water revisited
A recent report on brass jugs appeared recently on www.nature.com. According
to the article, brass jugs help reduce harmful bacteria and water-borne diseases.
Indigenous populations in regions of Asia have long believed that brass containers
provide some protection against diseases. Scientists in England have released
research that supports the local wisdom that brass offers benefits. Furthermore,
brass containers appear to provide protections that plastic containers don’t.
The study reveals that the levels of live E. coli in the tested brass vessels
fell significantly. After 48 hours the amount of the bacteria fell to undetectable
levels. The study may have implications for water storage in many regions in
the world. For more information, go to
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050404/full/050404-14.html.
New ReDirect Guide now available
The 2005 Edition of the ReDirect Guide is now available. This 5th anniversary
edition features:
• A new Green Marketplace - an entire catalog of healthy and sustainable products.
• A new Eco-Travel Section - Planning a weekend trip to the coast or to the
Gorge? Look in the ReDirect Guide for eco-friendly options for lodging, recreational
activities, and dining.
• More Listings and Articles - The ReDirect Guide has grown by almost 20% in
part due to continued consumer support of sustainable and healthy businesses.
Free copies of the ReDirect Guide can be found at over 1,200 locations in the Portland/Vancouver area. The publication is also available by sending a request to info@redirectguide.com.