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Due to rapidly changing technology, home and personal electronics are frequently being replaced with the most cutting-edge machines, creating a growing volume of used devices. These used electronics contain valuable materials and some materials of concern that can easily be recycled and managed appropriately. Currently, only a small percentage of these electronics are recycled and Federal and state policymakers have adopted varying approaches to the recycling of these used electronics. Some states (Maine, Maryland, and Washington) have adopted laws that require the manufacturer to be responsible for bearing the cost of recycling used electronics. California has imposed a new tax of $6 to $10 on the sale of certain products that is used to fund a government-financed recycling program. In the Congress, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jim Talent (R-MO) introduced a bill (S. 510) that would provide for a temporary tax credit to help jumpstart a national recycling infrastructure. In the House, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) co-authored a bill (H.R. 425) that would impose a $10 fee on certain products to finance a grant program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This issue is also being addressed legislatively in the European Union, China, Japan, Canada and other countries.
As a leading provider of technology products and a leading electronics recycler around the world, HP favors a product stewardship solution -- rather than new taxes or fees -- that relies on the private sector to implement innovative, cost-effective and environmentally sound recycling programs. HP supports uniform national legislation to achieve this goal, but recognizes that some states may seek to address this issue prior to the enactment of federal legislation as consumer awareness of the issue is limited.
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HP's position |
HP advocates a shared responsibility model that emphasizes product stewardship. A product stewardship solution for the recycling of household electronic products would leverage the expertise and innovation of the private sector to achieve environmentally sound management of discarded IT products at the lowest possible cost, while minimizing the role and burden on government. The goals of a product stewardship approach include the following:
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Creation of an efficient recycling framework that involves all stakeholders |
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Leveraging the expertise and innovation of the private sector to achieve environmental goals at the lowest possible cost |
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Providing opportunities for environmental and cost improvements over time |
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Avoiding new government or quasi-government bureaucracies and new taxes or fees |
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Fair application at the state or national level |
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Flexibility to accommodate different business models and new products over time |
Under this approach, manufacturers would have the responsibility to provide consumers with convenient, environmentally sound opportunities for recycling their products. By giving product manufacturers the responsibility to manage used products - and by providing them with the flexibility to implement this responsibility - companies can achieve environmental goals in the most cost effective manner. Manufacturers could implement programs individually or in partnership with retailers, charities, the waste collection and recycling industries, local governments, or others of their choosing. This flexibility will enable competition and the expertise of the private sector to be incorporated into the system. Other countries around the world have adopted variations of this approach.
The role of government under this approach is minimal. Upon enactment of implementing legislation, government's role would largely be to enforce the law to assure a level playing field. Governments could avoid the need to create new, complex and inefficient bureaucracies, and no new taxes or fees would need to be imposed on consumers.
This system is superior to alternative proposals based on a point-of-sale fee. Fee-based recycling programs implemented by government or quasi-government entities may, at first glance, appear attractive, but have several shortcomings:
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New taxes on consumers that unnecessarily raise products prices |
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Creation of new government programs with high administrative costs |
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Little or no incentives or controls for reducing costs over time |
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Potential for recycling fees to be diverted for other government functions
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Little or no opportunity for companies seeking to achieve superior performance to gain the benefits of their investments in this area |
The Product of Stewardship Solution HP supports would create a recycling framework that can be applied at the state level and transitioned easily to a national system. Since the end goal is one national standard, HP is actively encouraging a federal approach to the solution.
HP supports S.510 as a first step towards encouraging development of a comprehensive infrastructure. HP also supports regulatory improvements that would maintain environmental standards and reduce management costs.
HP looks forward to continuing its work with Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mary Bono (R-CA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and Zach Wamp (R-TN) and other Members of the Congressional E-Waste Working Group.
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HP's history |
HP is a leader in managing e-waste in an environmentally sound and responsible way, and delivers products that meet or exceed green purchasing requirements. HP works to minimize environmental impacts at all stages of its products' life cycles, including design, manufacture and packaging, use, and return and recycling or "end of life." HP has aligned its business and global citizenship strategies and collaborated across the industry with multilateral organizations, governments and non-government organizations (NGOs). HP was one of eight electronics companies to develop and sign the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct, which outlines socially responsible commitments related to companies' supply chains, including protection of the environment.
HP's computer hardware and print cartridge recycling programs operate in more than 30 countries worldwide. HP was one of the first companies to offer recycling programs for toner print cartridges, beginning in 1992, and for inkjet print cartridges, starting in 1997. Also in 1997, HP opened its first hardware recycling facility in Roseville, California, becoming the only major computer manufacturer to operate its own end-to-end recycling facility. A second facility has since been opened near Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2004, HP recycled more than any other PC vendor globally, recycling a total of 120 million pounds of hardware and supplies. Globally, HP recycles more than 6.5 million pounds of electronic waste each month. HP has established a goal of recycling 1 billion cumulative pounds of hardware and printer supplies by the end of 2007.
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Additional information |
Please contact David Isaacs at (202) 378-2513 for more information on HP and e-waste.
For more information on the HP Planet Partners return and recycling program, please visit www.hp.com/recycle.
For more information on HP's global position and work on e-recycling, please see HP's Global Citizenship Report.
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