Main Menu Main Menu Iowa News
Iowa Joins Other Midwestern States in Developing Electronic Waste Regional
08/04/2006
After nearly 10 months of dialog and meetings, the Midwest Regional
Electronic Waste Policy Initiative has issued its policy statement to ensure
environmentally sound and cost effective management of electronic wastes or “e-wastes.”
The lack of easy access to environmentally sound recycling options has concerned
communities faced with the sheer volume of computers, televisions and other electronic
products currently being thrown away. The Midwest policy has the official support of
four state environmental agencies— Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin—with
endorsement expected shortly from Minnesota.
“A regional approach to electronic waste management will reduce the likelihood that one
state’s policies will have a detrimental impact on neighboring states,” said Matt Hale,
director of the office of solid waste at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Environmental agency staff worked with stakeholders representing industry,
environmental groups, recyclers and other interested parties to develop policy guidelines
that Midwest states can use to draft consistent electronic waste management legislation.
Currently, legislation has been developed in California, Maine, Maryland and
Washington for recycling e-waste, but each state’s laws have unique requirements.
“By creating one approach to e-waste management across the Midwest, industry,
governments and consumers will have fewer rules and regulations to understand and
comply with,” said Theresa Stiner, environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources. “We hope to increase the effectiveness of e-waste recycling by
continuing our partnerships with these other states in administering a regional e-waste
program.”
The Midwest policy calls for manufacturer responsibility in the collection, transportation
and recycling of electronic products based on the manufacturer’s sales in the state.
Manufacturers who do not have or choose not to have a recycling program for managing
e-waste may meet their obligation by paying into a recycling fund. Retailers’
responsibilities include reporting sales data to manufacturers, and only selling products of
manufacturers that are in compliance. The Midwest policy also includes a landfill
disposal ban to be in place after two years.
The policy, letters of support from the state agencies and additional information is
available at the Minnesota Product Stewardship Web site:
www.moea.state.mn.us/stewardship/electronicsmidwest.cfm.
Source: DNR EcoNews Wire
Iowa Joins Other Midwestern States in Developing Electronic Waste Regional
08/04/2006
After nearly 10 months of dialog and meetings, the Midwest Regional
Electronic Waste Policy Initiative has issued its policy statement to ensure
environmentally sound and cost effective management of electronic wastes or “e-wastes.”
The lack of easy access to environmentally sound recycling options has concerned
communities faced with the sheer volume of computers, televisions and other electronic
products currently being thrown away. The Midwest policy has the official support of
four state environmental agencies— Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin—with
endorsement expected shortly from Minnesota.
“A regional approach to electronic waste management will reduce the likelihood that one
state’s policies will have a detrimental impact on neighboring states,” said Matt Hale,
director of the office of solid waste at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Environmental agency staff worked with stakeholders representing industry,
environmental groups, recyclers and other interested parties to develop policy guidelines
that Midwest states can use to draft consistent electronic waste management legislation.
Currently, legislation has been developed in California, Maine, Maryland and
Washington for recycling e-waste, but each state’s laws have unique requirements.
“By creating one approach to e-waste management across the Midwest, industry,
governments and consumers will have fewer rules and regulations to understand and
comply with,” said Theresa Stiner, environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources. “We hope to increase the effectiveness of e-waste recycling by
continuing our partnerships with these other states in administering a regional e-waste
program.”
The Midwest policy calls for manufacturer responsibility in the collection, transportation
and recycling of electronic products based on the manufacturer’s sales in the state.
Manufacturers who do not have or choose not to have a recycling program for managing
e-waste may meet their obligation by paying into a recycling fund. Retailers’
responsibilities include reporting sales data to manufacturers, and only selling products of
manufacturers that are in compliance. The Midwest policy also includes a landfill
disposal ban to be in place after two years.
The policy, letters of support from the state agencies and additional information is
available at the Minnesota Product Stewardship Web site:
www.moea.state.mn.us/stewardship/electronicsmidwest.cfm.
Source: DNR EcoNews Wire
© Copyright 2008 Iowa Waste Reduction Center
A Service of Business and Community Services at the
University of Northern Iowa
Suite 113, BCS Building
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0185
Phone: 319.273.8905
800 Number: 800.422.3109
Fax: 319.273.6582