Epa to Pull Out of Computer Recycling Program?

The U.S. EPA recently threatened to pull out of a proposed national electronics recycling initiative. A meeting in Chicago this week will try to sort out some of the disputes between the negotiating parties. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach explains:

Transcript

The U.S. EPA recently threatened to pull out of a proposed national electronics recycling
initiative. A meeting in Chicago this week will try to sort out some of the disputes between the
negotiating parties. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach explains:


The ‘National Electronics Product Stewardship’ initiative is trying to maximize the collection,
reuse, and recycling of used devices like old computers. The nearly four dozen stakeholders of
the group are debating four different ways to foot the bill. But the EPA recently said it would
pull the plug on the initiative if the members don’t reach a financing agreement soon.


Garth Hickle is with the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. He advises some group
members and he’s optimistic about a potential deal. Hickle says computer manufacturers that
want a level playing field realize some states are looking at writing their own laws.


“So I think the whole notion of trying to go forward with a national federal approach rather than
an individual state approach has a little more traction than it did.”


Hickle hopes an electronics recycling subcommittee will soon narrow the number of financing
options, so the EPA stays on board.


For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Chuck Quirmbach reporting.