Domestic E-Waste Recycling: Reduce, Reuse, Create Job Opportunities

The United States is the largest consumer of electronic products like cell phones, digital video recorders, and televisions. Our large consumption means more trash which means a higher need for product disposal. This type of waste--known as e-waste--can contaminate soil and drinking water with potentially dangerous levels of toxic substances like mercury or aluminum if not disposed of properly. The US created 3.1 million tons of e-waste in 2009 and much of this waste has been dumped in landfills or shipped to developing countries. However, there is now a growing interest--and industry--centered on domestic e-waste recycling. 

The US government has played a role in the increased attention to this fledging industry, specifically by implementing new guidelines banning the disposal of any governmental electronic waste in landfills. The new rules suggest that the governmental agency first try to donate any used electronics to schools or other organizations before disposal. If that is not possible, the items should then be recycled by a third-party electronics recycling firm or certified product destruction company. The federal government is also laying the groundwork for the creation and growth of recycling firms in the United States. There is not a solid network of electronic recycling and certified product destruction companies in the US, partly because of the competition with countries overseas. A coalition of 29 companies that handles e-recycling are endorsing a law called the “Responsible Electronics Recycling Act” which allows for fair trade policies and may give the US industry more room to grow and create more jobs. It is thought that for every job exporting waste products, seven jobs can be created in the US recycling industry. The challenge has been that the US companies have to abide by more safety standards than other countries. Hopefully this act will level the playing field. 

Another federal law--the Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act--may increase the development of e-recycling companies domestically. The act will give grants for more e-waste recycling research and development and projects. The law is in the preliminary stages but is another example of the growing interest in developing domestic e-waste recycling. State governments have also gotten involved in promoting e-recycling. There are 25 states that have laws mandating e-waste recycling and several other states are considering their own version of these bills within the year. Multiple state grants are also available for e-waste recycling programs. These awards may be small or large and may be utilized by municipalities, organizations, or companies. 

The business community is also supporting the growth of e-waste recycling. Manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Sony, HP, Gateway and Panasonic are participating in manufacturer take back programs and are increasing efforts to reuse or recycle the products with e-waste recycling companies. Many of these firms are setting increasing goals for the amount of e-waste that will be reused or recycled each year. 

With all of this focus on electronic waste, domestic certified product destruction and recycling companies themselves are important parts of the puzzle. A variety of companies that handle e-waste recycling are located throughout the country. There are approximately 3,321 recycling firms in the US which employ around 30,000 workers as of 2010. These companies have revenues of $5 billion. Our country recycles only a quarter of its e-waste and global revenues for e-waste recovery are estimated to be $14 billion by the year 2014. With the federal and state government involvement and business community interest, the industry will continue to grow, making domestic e-waste recycling not only good for the environment, but good for the economy.