Current pattern in waste management  Local Governments bear brunt of management – especially for household wastes.  Small levels of support from state government; even smaller from the federal level.  Manufacturers, Retailers, etc., provide almost no support.  Complexity and size of waste stream increasing.  As new products appear, “new” waste streams also appear over time.  Larger, more affluent communities tend to be better able to run programs for special waste (e.g., HHW).

Electronics Recovery: Key Issues  Are diversion programs “necessary?”  Who will be responsible?  What are the recovery options? Which are the best?  How much will it cost?  Who will pay?

National Estimates of Electronics Generation (in tons) Extrapolated from US EPA’s MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES: 1999 FACTS AND FIGURES

Time for a change?  Should local governments be solely responsible – financially and logistically – for electronics recovery?  Is there merit in working to change the old patterns?  What specific means are available to local (and state) governments to change the pattern?

Idea of Product Stewardship  Environmental impacts should be carefully managed from production through disposal.  Industry, in particular, should exercise greater responsibility and play a greater role in end-of-life issues.  European initiatives (e.g., German packaging laws) have formalized industry responsibility.  Related ideas: Extended Producer Responsibility, product take-backs, design-for-environment, etc.

Why a National Product Stewardship Strategy is Needed  Coordinate Multiple State and Regional Initiatives  Efficiency  One Set of Regulations  One Set of Meetings (or Coordinated Meetings)  Strength in Numbers/Political Momentum  Share Information (Laws, Regulations, Policy, Programs)

National Product Stewardship Forum  December 6-7, 2000 in Boston  1st Time Gathering of State/Local Officials  Product Stewardship Principles and Policies  Product-Specific Waste Management Strategies  Focus: Electronics, Mercury-Containing Products, Pesticides, Paint, and Carpet  Laid Foundation for National Dialogues on Specific Products

Product Stewardship Institute  Established to be the “voice” for state and local governments on product stewardship issues  Coalition of 20 States and 8 municipalities  Clearinghouse on product stewardship issues.  Primary initial focus on electronics – coordinating government group.  Other materials/products to be taken on over time

Product Stewardship Institute  Interim Steering Council  Coalition Members  20 States: CA, FL, IA, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, WA, WI  NEWMOA (CT, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT)  8 Local Agencies from CA, MN, OR, WA

Primary Mission of the Product Stewardship Institute  The Product Stewardship Institute assists state and local government agencies in establishing cooperative agreements with industry and developing other initiatives that reduce the health and environmental impacts from consumer products.

Secondary Mission of the Product Stewardship Institute  The Institute seeks out the active input from, and cooperates with, environmental groups, business interests, academic institutions, the federal government, and related organizations to achieve product stewardship goals.

Principles  Responsibility  Should be shared among industry, government, and consumers  The greater the ability to minimize impact, the great the responsibility for addressing impacts  Internalizing costs  All health and environmental impacts should be included in the total product cost  Costs should be minimized to local and state governments (and shifted of manufacturers and consumers)  Manufacturers should have direct financial incentive to redesign products to reduce costs

Principles (continued)  Incentives for Cleaner Products and Sustainability  PS policies should create manufacturer incentives toward cleaner design, less energy use, less waste, and participation in recovery.  Flexible Management Strategies  Those responsible for reducing environmental impacts of products should be given flexibility but be measured against goals.  Roles and Relationships  Industry should provide leadership in realizing these principles  Government should lead through procurement practices, technical assistance, addressing regulatory barriers, and other actions.

Specific PSI activities  Coordinating government coalition in the National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative.  Reaching out to industry groups, trade organizations, academic institutions, and govt. agencies to promote product stewardship.  Tracking product stewardship initiatives, building clearinghouse, working on procurement issues.  Building coalition, formalizing governance, putting up permanent website.  Working with membership to identify next products for PSI activity.

National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI)  Government Participants (at table)  CA, FL, IA, MA, MN, MO, NJ, OR, SC, WA  Snohomish County, WA  Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, MN  Northeast Waste Management Officials Assoc.  ME, VT, NH, NY, CT, RI (MA, NJ)  Product Stewardship Institute  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  Government Observers  NC, PA, NE, TN, MD, VA, WV + Others

Government Role in NEPSI  Initiated Dialogue with Industry  Developed Proposed Issues and Expectations Documents  Create Political Momentum for National Solution

Product Stewardship: A New Product Management Paradigm VOLUNTARY MANDATORY NEGOTIATED

Linkage to other Organizations  Solid Waste Association of North America  developing a product stewardship policy  may adopt PSI principles  National Recycling Coalition  Active on electronic issues  may adopt PSI principles  North American Hazardous Materials Management Association  Adopted the PSI Principles  Northwest Product Stewardship Council  Adopted the PSI Principles

Joining PSI  Currently, no costs to join PSI  Level of involvement totally optional, from basic membership to working on task groups.  Simple process to join – exchange of letters between Mass./PSI and your jurisdiction

Benefits  Coalition = Clout  Working to change in the old pattern of waste management.  Over time and through joint action, responsibility pushed “up the chain” and shared more broadly.  Dialogue and networking with fellow agencies  Access to policy and other information

Contact Information Scott Cassel, Director Product Stewardship Institute University of Massachusetts/Lowell Pinanski Hall, Room 303 One University Avenue Lowell, MA (978) (ph) (978) (fax)

How will you (we) manage electronic “wastes?”