When Computing, Though Shall Go "Green".... and Happily Foot the Bill for It
You will "go green"...if not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then really soon...
And it will cost you. And you won't mind. (Huh?) That's right, you won't mind at all...
Read on...
There are two types of state laws requiring e-waste recycling:
Producer Responsibility laws, in which the producer (i.e., the company making the "stuff") is responsible for taking back its products and disposing or recycling them; and
Advanced Recovery Fee (ARF) laws, which require the consumer (i.e., you) to pay a fee, at the time of your purchase, which goes into a state fund used to pay for the cost of recycling.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Regardless of which type of law is implemented in your home state, you're going to be shelling out a few dollars for the sake of the greater good.
If your state implements Producer Responsibility laws, then the cost will be passed on to you. Put another way, if technology manufacturers are going to be legally obligated to handle their products' end-of-life management, you’ll be paying for it. (You didn't think they would foot the bill, did you?)
Also, for those of you who live in an ARF state, don’t think for a minute that any ARF fee will cover the full cost of recycling. You should definitely expect increases in your taxes, because the ARF fee barely covers the gas required for the recycler/disposer to come and pick the junk up from your house.
So, regardless of which model of the law is passed in your state, you will pay for the proper disposal of your computer, computer components, etc.
That wasn’t so bad, now was it? In fact, depending on how you look at it, that might have been good news. I think it is, and here’s why…
Electronic waste is bad news because it takes up space, contains highly toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, and fails to replenish our limited amount of raw materials. I'm no tree-hugger, but it is definitely in our best interests to recycle products and take measures to ensure that hazardous materials are handled properly. (Unless, of course, you enjoy a good cadmium sandwich now and then, in which case you should continue to toss batteries and other portable power sources into your outgoing trash....)
E-recycling laws force manufacturers to make computers with materials that are easier to reuse and recycle. The laws will help prevent landfills from filling up with potentially toxic waste. At the very least, the laws will require electronics manufacturers to be ecologically responsible.
Now, if you don’t care about the environment, that’s your problem, but I guarantee you care about your money. So let me drop some more knowledge on you…
E-waste laws are going to save you money in the long run, because they encourage preventative and forward thinking measures. For example, the states that don’t have the laws will see their landfills fill up, and they will quickly become toxic hot spots that cost more to fix than it would have cost to prevent the situation in the first place.
Take a guess where all that clean-up money is going to come from? If you said the "manufacturers", then you’re optimistic to the point of lunacy. Call a therapist, quick. In reality, the money is going to come from your tax dollars—and it’s not going to be cheap.
So here's my message: new Green IT laws are coming—embrace them. It may cost you a few bucks, but think of it this way: you’re investing in a better future, and (for once) your state legislature will be providing you the means to do so.
On a related side note, I am leading an initiative in CompTia to discuss and address Green IT issues. Our committee will be coming up with standard recommended protocols and definitions to help get a handle on this issue. If you have any thoughts on the subject, let me know.....
(My thanks to my star intern, Michael DeBiase, a Nova Southeastern law student, who provided invaluable guidance for this entry.....)
Trackbacks
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11/29/2008 1:33 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. ... -
11/29/2008 2:04 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. ... -
11/29/2008 2:11 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the topic--check ... -
11/29/2008 2:12 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the topic--check ... -
11/30/2008 12:10 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the ... -
12/1/2008 11:10 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the ... -
12/1/2008 11:11 AM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the ... -
12/1/2008 4:16 PM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the topic--check out ... -
12/1/2008 4:18 PM
The Business Technology Law Blog wrote:
eWaste is a problem---a HUGE problem. And as 60 Minutes recently pointed out, we're not even close to perfecting the "use-recycle-reuse" paradigm yet. The 60 Minutes report, which you can check out HERE, points out that a great number of companies are merely shipping their eWaste to Asia, where lead, mercury, and other toxins from the eWaste seep into the groundwater and cause people to suffer grievous harm (to put it mildly). In the upcoming weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles about the eWaste issue. Actually, I already started on the topic--check out ...
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