WASHINGTON-The skyrocketing consumer consumption and subsequent disposal of computers, pagers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants and other electronic devices has created new environmental challenges in the Digital Age, which Europe is addressing far more aggressively than the United States.
The environmental challenges are playing out on at least two major fronts.
One is the growing problem of electronic and electrical waste treatment. The other challenge, not as apparent but equally pressing, has to do with the growing drain on electricity in the digital economy.
A new report by Worldwatch Institute predicts increased power interruptions in the future because coal and nuclear power plants cannot meet growing electricity requirements of high-tech firms.
Satisfying increased electricity demand will require coal-burning power plants to ratchet up production, a tack that will increase emissions of mercury into the air. This week, a scientific panel is expected to back federal environmental regulations governing mercury emissions from power plants.
Instead of increasing power plant production, Worldwatch advocates clean micropower. On that score, Motorola Inc. and the Los Alamos National Laboratory are working together to make fuel cells-combining alcohol, water and oxygen-as an alternative to batteries for mobile phones.
“The issue (of electronic waste) has come up a lot lately,” said Lauren Mical, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The issue is particularly tricky for cities, which at once are increasingly dependent on high-tech firms for economic growth but fear the fallout from e-waste.
“I think it’s an emerging issue. I wouldn’t say it’s a crisis at this point,” said Dave Gatton, deputy executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. At the annual conference last month in Seattle, the nation’s mayors urged voluntary recycling efforts by manufacturers and communities.
Mobile phones, computers and other electronic gizmos of the Information Age contain potentially toxic materials that are accumulating in landfills and incinerators before finding their way into soil, water and air.
Circuit boards and semiconductors contain cadmium. Batteries and switches contain mercury and other environmentally unfriendly chemicals. Plastics that are burned can give off dioxin. Computer monitors and solder contain varying levels of lead. And chromium is used in the production of steel to prevent corrosion. All the substances can be hazardous to the environment.
While it classifies some materials used in the production of wireless products as hazardous, EPA does not mandate the kind of far-reaching electronics recycling requirements currently contemplated by Europe.
Last month, the European Commission proposed legislation that would make telecom equipment manufacturers and other electronics suppliers responsible for collecting and recycling digital gadgets by 2006.
In addition, proposed EC directives would ban various heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium) and brominated flame retardants in new electronic and electrical equipment by Jan. 1, 2008.
However, the EC measure provides leeway for exemptions if there are no comparable substitutes for banned cyber junk.
“This is a major step toward the objective of sustainable production and consumption … Due to the fast pace of technological innovation, electrical and electronic equipment constitute one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the EU. It is therefore particularly important to implement the key principles of EU waste-management policy, especially the prevention and recycling of waste, in this area,” said Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, following EC adoption last month of the draft directives.
Environmentalists and high-tech sectors in the United States are watching European developments closely, given the global nature of high-tech and the possibility that similar policies could find their way to the United States.
“Adoption of the EC directives will help protect environmental health and safety on both sides of the Atlantic by phasing out some of the worst toxic chemicals and reducing growing piles of electronic junk,” said Ted Smith, executive director of the San Jose-based Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. “Even though it has been watered down due to intensive industry lobbying, it still goes a long way in promoting producer responsibility.”
Smith said while the disposal and lack of recycling of computers and televisions are the most pressing e-waste problems, the question of what to do with old mobile phones and other electronic devices remains a huge challenge.
Electronics and high-tech manufacturers here and overseas view the EU e-recycling initiative as draconian and counterproductive.
The Electronic Industries Alliance said the two EC directives “may in the long-run cause more harm to the environment than good because they are not based on sound science and may fail to promote the development of a uniform and consistent recycling infrastructure across the European Union.”
Holly Evans, director of environmental programs at EIA, said proposed EC deadlines for electronic recycling by manufacturers and the discontinuation of certain chemicals are arbitrary.
Both the EIA and the American Electronics Association have lobbied the U.S. trade representative and others in the Clinton administration to protest the proposed EC directives. The USTR did not return a call for comment.
“It’s a very drastic remedy for a problem that has many alternatives,” said Evans. Evans said EIA is working aggressively to address recycling in a comprehensive manner that covers the entire life cycle of a product.
Indeed, there are signs that industry is beginning to take the issue seriously.
Finland’s Nokia Corp., the world’s top mobile phone marker, embraces a “life cycle thinking” philosophy that assess environmental impacts beginning with the acquisition of raw materials to the disposal of the product.
In Europe, Nokia and other mobile phone suppliers participate in pilot programs conducted by ECTEL, a group representing European telecom equipment and system vendors, which encourages subscribers to return end-of-line products to collections points. From there, phones are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Nokia and other manufacturers have joined the U.S.-based Power Rechargeable Battery Association, which promotes take-back programs for batteries.
One form mobile phone recycling takes in the United States is through programs-like `Call to Protect’-whereby old phones are donated to charitable groups.
Top computer manufacturers, like Apple, IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard Co. and Gateway, were given high marks by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition for recycling and other environmental practices.
In April, Massachusetts became the first state to prohibit the dumping of video monitors in landfills and incinerators.
Meanwhile, the growing attention given to e-waste and the possibility of state and federal legislation in the future, has spawned a cottage industry of high-tech refurbishers and recyclers around the country.
It’s just not wireless manufacturers that are on the hot seat, however. In early 1999, the EPA reached settlements with ten telecom firms-including several wireless carriers-for violating scores of environmental regulations.
