Beyond Recycling Sheila Davis Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition August 2004

SVTC Mission Statement Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition does research, advocacy, and organizing to address human health and environmental problems caused by the rapid growth of the high-tech electronics industry. Our goal is to advance environmental sustainability and clean production in the industry, as well as to improve health, promote justice, and ensure democratic decision-making for communities and workers affected by the high-tech revolution.Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Computer TakeBack Campaign Take it back Make it clean Recycle Responsibly

Elements of CTBC Platform Manufacturer takeback of equipment Reduction of toxic components Increased recycled content Reduced packaging Upgradability Longevity Electronic waste bans on export & prison labor Clean manufacturing practices Design for reuse and recycling

Corporate Responsibility Vs Product Design

Beyond Product Design Recycle Content Toxics reductions Design for Recycling

Corporate Responsibility Social Justice Worker Health Worker Rights Community right to healthy environment Environmental Justice

Impacts -2 From 1987 to 1993 US EPA reported that 177 tons of toxic chemicals were released into the air by just one high-tech facility in California. More than –700 compounds used to make one computer work station –12 million computers amounting to more than 300,000 tons of electronic junk are disposed annually

A Semiconductor Wafer Image:

Materials Used

Waste Output

Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines for Electronic Products Materials of Concern (2) teratogenic = linked to birth defects persistent = not easily excreted from the body bioaccumulative = magnifies up the food chain carcinogenic = cancer causing

Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines for Electronic Products Materials of Concern (3) reproductive toxin = linked to birth defects endocrine disruptor = disrupts the hormonal system mutagenic = causes mutations in cells

Global High-Tech Production is Undergoing the Largest Industrial Expansion in History

Piles of E-Waste

US Prisons

Quote: Myron Harrison, M.D., IBM, in Hazardous Materials Toxicology What do Engineers and Designers know? “ … Engineers are not evaluated nor rewarded on their ability to… understand new or unusual health hazards… Unfortunately, the opportunities for professionals to be involved before these new processes arrive at the manufacturing floor are being diminished…”

What We Know We Can Do -Enforce Executive Order Use purchasing guidelines that included Corporate Social Responsibility -Ask Companies about their supply chain -Ask Companies about their Social Responsibility reporting

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