Compliance with Electronics Takeback Laws Costly, Raymond Report Says.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003 Gearing up to ensure compliance with Europe's electronics takeback directives and re-designing for heavy metal phase outs could initially cost industry about $40 billion in Europe alone, though enforcement will be difficult. That according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an updated report "Electronics Recycling: What to Expect from Global Mandates" from Raymond Communications (http://www.raymond.com) released this week. "Electronics makers are struggling to phase out lead solder and other heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. on a wide range of products - from toaster See intranet toaster and Video Toaster. (jargon) toaster - 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded microprocessor controller; often used in comments that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see elevator controller). ovens to mainframe computers -- to meet a 2006 deadline, even though the European Commission European Commission, branch of the governing body of the European Union (EU) invested with executive and some legislative powers. Located in Brussels, Belgium, it was founded in 1967 when the three treaty organizations comprising what was then the European Community will not settle all the definitions until 2004," comments Michele Raymond, editor and publisher of the updated 230-page report. "Compliance will require some costly coordination throughout the supply chain, yet our research indicates, for example, that Dutch authorities have little clue as to how they might enforce both of these directives at the Port of Rotterdam The port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam, South Holland, the Netherlands. From 1962 until 2004 it was the world's busiest port, now overtaken by Asian ports like Singapore and Shanghai. ." The report includes a survey of environmental reports of 29 major electronics makers. It finds that nine major Japanese electronics firms spent more than $1.5 billion on environmental design and compliance for the 2001-2002 period, with the giant Matsushita spending the most at $413 million. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and has halted financial support for the National Electronic Product Stewardship Product stewardship is a concept whereby environmental protection centers around the product itself, and everyone involved in the lifespan of the product is called upon to take up responsibility to reduce its environmental impact. Initiative, though the process will continue with private funds. The group is attempting to work out a national takeback plan for a more limited number of electronic items in the U.S. But implementation will be a challenge, Raymond says. "Even if industry agreed to fund all collection costs, how can they divvy div·vy Slang tr.v. div·vied, div·vy·ing, div·vies To divide. Often used with up: divvied up the loot. n. pl. div·vies A share or portion. the money up among 12,000 local governments?" she says. The updated report covers U.S. state and federal legislation, as well as detailed coverage of 16 countries, including Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The report's country summaries include collection fees and recycling rates where available. It also includes results of a 50-state survey of electronics recycling policy, including opinions of state recycling managers. The appendix includes English texts of electronics recycling laws and documents from 10 countries, including Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. These issues will be covered at the Take it Back!WEST conference, March 1-3, near San Francisco. See http://www.raymond.com for details or call 301-345-4237. |
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