{
  "id": "RL31505",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31505",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 306402,
      "date": "2005-07-18",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:38:11.228029",
      "title": "Recycling Computers and Electronic Equipment: Legislative and Regulatory Approaches for \"E-Waste\"",
      "summary": "Rapid growth in the use of computers and the incorporation of electronic features in a wide array\nof\nconsumer products have been among the most important driving forces of the nation's economy in\nrecent years; but they also pose potential environmental problems. In addition to producing better\nproducts, the improvements in technology have created growing volumes of obsolete products to be\nmanaged as waste. According to the National Safety Council, which undertook the first major effort\nto gather quantitative information on e-waste, 500 million personal computers will become obsolete\nin the United States between 1997 and 2007. At an average weight of 60 pounds, obsolete PCs\nweighing 15 million tons will become waste needing management in that period. EPA, using a\nbroader definition, estimates that 2.8 million tons of consumer electronics were generated as waste\nin 2003.\n Management of these products as waste is of concern in part because of their volume, but more\nimportantly because they contain large amounts of heavy metals and other toxic substances. A\ncomputer monitor or television set, for example, generally contains 4-8 pounds of lead. Mercury,\ncadmium, and other heavy metals are also commonly used in such equipment. In an incinerator or\nlandfill, these metals can be released to the environment, contaminating air, ash, and ground water.\nAs a result, many argue that electronic equipment should be managed separately from the municipal\nwaste stream, and recycled whenever possible.\n The United States has done little to address this problem. Unless disposed in large quantities,\nused computers and other electronic products are allowed to be managed as municipal solid waste\n(i.e., the same as ordinary household trash) in most states. In some locations, used computers have\nbeen collected for recycling on special voluntary collection days, but few jurisdictions offer frequent,\ncomprehensive recycling opportunities for electronic waste. The exceptions are three states in which\ndisposal of cathode ray tubes (i.e., television sets and computer monitors) has been banned --\nessentially requiring their separate collection for recycling. Collection for recycling does not\nguarantee environmentally responsible management, however; reports suggest that large volumes\nof electronic waste separated for recycling have been shipped to China and other developing\ncountries, where primitive recycling methods threaten human health and the environment.\n Numerous interested parties, including environmental groups, solid waste management\nofficials, electronics manufacturers, and retailers, have begun to develop alternative approaches on\na voluntary basis; in Japan, the European Union, California, Maine, and Maryland, regulations are\nbeing implemented that will force manufacturers and importers to take back end of life products for\nrecycling and waste management separate from the municipal waste stream, or provide funds to\ncover the cost of recycling programs. \n This report provides background on the management of discarded computers, discusses some\nof the initiatives undertaken in the United States and abroad, and identifies options that Congress\nmight consider if it were to address this issue.",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs3481/",
      "id": "RL31505 2002-10-18",
      "date": "2002-10-18",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T09:00:09",
      "title": "Recycling Computers and Electronic Equipment: Legislative and Regulatory Approaches for \"E-Waste\"",
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      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Technology",
          "name": "Technology"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Recycling of waste products",
          "name": "Recycling of waste products"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Computers",
          "name": "Computers"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Solid wastes",
          "name": "Solid wastes"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs3480/",
      "id": "RL31505 2002-07-19",
      "date": "2002-07-19",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T08:59:09",
      "title": "Recycling Computers and Electronic Equipment: Legislative and Regulatory Approaches for \"E-Waste\"",
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      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Technology",
          "name": "Technology"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Recycling of waste products",
          "name": "Recycling of waste products"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Computers",
          "name": "Computers"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Solid wastes",
          "name": "Solid wastes"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": []
}