# Electronics Manufacturers and Retailers Join EPA Challenge for Safe Management of Used Electronics

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/09/epa-safe-electronics-recycling-challenge/
- Published: 2012-09-21T01:39:00-04:00
- Author: greenguruguides

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2012

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched its Sustainable
Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge, an initiative to make protective
electronics refurbishing and recycling practices the industry standard. EPA Deputy
Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response Lisa Feldt, joined
by leaders from Best Buy, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sprint, and
Staples, made the announcement at Vintage Tech Recyclers, a certified electronics
recycling facility in Romeoville, Ill.

“Already, the United States generates almost 2.5 million tons of electronic waste
per year – and that number will only grow. Used electronics have materials in them
that can be recovered and recycled, reducing the economic costs and environmental
impacts of securing and processing new materials for new products,” said EPA Administrator
Lisa. P. Jackson. “The SMM Electronics Challenge will help us ensure that we are
doing all we can to repurpose or safely dispose of the cell phones, computers and
other devices we use every day – all while helping to build a robust market for 
electronics recycling in the United States.”

As the volume of used electronics continues to grow in the U.S. and the world, so
has the importance of safely managing and recycling used electronics. Electronics
are made of valuable resources such as precious metals, copper, plastic and glass–
all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling or reusing these 
electronics conserves these materials and prevents greenhouse gas emissions and 
other pollution.

By participating in the SMM Electronics Challenge, leaders in the electronics industry
are committing to send 100 percent of the used electronics that they collect to 
third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers and to increase the amount of used
electronics they collect. Through this challenge, EPA is providing a transparent
and measurable way for electronic companies to commit to safe and environmentally
protective practices for the refurbishment and recycling of used electronics, and
publically show progress toward recycling goals.

In order to be certified, recyclers must demonstrate to an accredited, independent
auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage used electronics.
Third-party recyclers, including Vintage Tech Recyclers, are expanding to meet growing
demand for this accreditation. Vintage Tech Recyclers attributes 80 percent of new
jobs added in the last two years to their third-party certification.

The Electronics Challenge supports President Obama’s “National Strategy for Electronics
Stewardship” – a strategy for the responsible design, purchasing, management and
recycling of electronics to promote the growing electronics recycling market and
jobs of the future. In conjunction with the release of the National Strategy in 
July of 2011, Dell, Sony and Sprint committed to EPA to follow a set of responsible
management practices with their used electronics. The commitments of these three
companies formed the foundation from which the Electronics Challenge was developed.

More information on the EPA and industry collaboration: [http://www.epa.gov/smm](http://www.epa.gov/smm)

More information on the National Strategy: [http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/taskforce/docs/strategy.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/taskforce/docs/strategy.pdf)

More information on certified recycling:

[http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/certification.ht](http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/certification.ht)

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