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• Networking Conference Calls - Spring/Summer 2008

Conference Calls:

• State and Federal Legislative Update
• Electronics Recycling Standards
• Pharmaceuticals 
• Global Warming and Product Stewardship
• Manufacturer Role in Product Stewardship
• Spreading the Word on Product Stewardship

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Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.
137 Newbury Street
7th Floor
Boston, MA 02116

PSI Networking Call Series: March - June 2008 Electronics Recycling Standards

Date: April 17, 2008
Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT

Overview: For many years, the U.S. and other developed countries have exported electronics waste to developing countries. It is clear that significant environmental and worker safety issues arise in the case of some exports of US e-waste.  But it is also true that some exports of these materials are legally acceptable and appropriate foreign facilities, and that recycling of some e-waste in the U.S. could not take place without such foreign markets. Differentiating "bad" exports from "good" exports is the challenge on the issue of e-waste exports. This call will provide an update on the existing federal regulations, laws in importing and transit countries, as well as voluntary industry standards currently being developed that relate to managing electronics export. These draft standards define the requirements for managing electronic waste throughout the U.S. and provide guidelines for environmentally sound programs that safeguard the health and safety of workers and consumers. In this discussion, you will hear a national perspective on recycling standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an update on international realities from the Basel Action Network, and the recycler perspective from Cascade Asset Management.

Presenters:

Robert Tonetti (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Bob Tonetti is a Senior Environmental Scientist in EPA’s Office of Solid Waste, where his focus for the last 7 years has been on the environmentally sound reuse and recycling of used and scrap electronics.  Some of his principal areas of focus include export issues, due diligence and recycler certification.  Bob developed the guidelines under EPA's Plug-In to eCycling program for the sound management of e-waste and was the lead author of international guidelines on the reuse and recycling of personal computers for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  With more than 30 years at EPA, Bob has been involved with the development of many of the RCRA regulations.  Bob also has worked in the secondary materials recycling industry, both in the public and private sectors.

Sarah Westervelt (Basel Action Network (BAN))
Sarah Westervelt is the e-Waste Project Coordinator at the Basel Action Network (BAN), and the Recycling Coordinator for the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (formerly the Computer TakeBack Campaign), a national coalition of public interest groups working on e-waste issues.  Her work includes administering the Electronic Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship, educating the public about the global toxics and legal issues associated with exporting e-waste, as well as highlighting the worst-case scenarios.  Sarah co-authored BAN exposés including films and reports documenting horrific “recycling” of the world’s e-waste in China and Nigeria.  Through market-based programs, policy development, and education, the e-Waste Project provides support to states and local jurisdictions, manufacturers, recyclers and waste generators of all sizes to go beyond inadequate federal policies, and to better understand existing international laws that pertain to the trade in toxic wastes, as well as the principle of environmental justice.  Sarah has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Systems Renewal from Antioch University, and worked for years as a consultant in organizational development before joining the Basel Action Network in 2001.

Neil Peters-Michaud (Cascade Asset Management)
Mr. Neil Peters-Michaud, the Chief Executive Officer and an owner of the company, founded Cascade with his partner in April, 1999. Mr. Peters-Michaud graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Masters in Business Management in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Philosophy and Environmental Studies in 1993. Mr. Peters-Michaud has published several papers on electronics recycling issues. He has also been directly involved in planning and implementing more than 25 municipal collection events in the Midwest collecting over 2 million pounds of equipment.  Since inception, Cascade has processed more than 40 million pounds of electronics for reuse or recycling.  Mr.Peters-Michaud has also provided technical and on-site assistance to support the development of a government sponsored electronics demanufacturing center in Africa.