Grants From EPA
The Electronic Device Recycling Research and
Development Act.
From E-Scrap News April 23,2009
Congressional e-scrap legislation passed by House
In what is big news for the electronics recycling industry, the U.S.
House of Representatives has approved an amended version of House
Resolution 1580, the Electronic Device Recycling Research and
Development Act.
The measure requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
award multi-year grants to organizations and higher educational
institutions to conduct research on innovative and practical approaches
to e-scrap reduction and study the environmentally-friendly design,
manufacture, refurbishing and recycling of certain electronic devices.
The EPA would be responsible for submitting to Congress a biennial
report addressing the grants issued, and description and results of the
research projects carried out. Overall funding for the research would
amount to $18 million for fiscal year (FY) 2010, and $20 million and $22
million for the subsequent fiscal years.
One year after enactment, the National Academy of Sciences would be
responsible for submitting to the EPA a report that addressed numerous
aspects of electronics recycling, including:
The opportunities and barriers to increasing the recyclability of
electronic devices
The designing of electronic devices to facilitate re-use and
recycling
Making electronic devices safer and more environmentally friendly
The recycling or safe disposal of electronic devices and low-value
materials recovered from such devices
Engineering Curriculum Development Grants established by the act would
be used by colleges, universities, and technical and vocational
institutions to broaden undergraduate and graduate-level engineering and
professional continuing education curriculum to include environmental
engineering design principles and consideration of product lifecycles
related to electronic devices. Curriculum would also address how to
increase the recyclability of such devices. Funding for such efforts
would entail $5 million for FY 2010, $5.15 million for FY 2011 and
approximately $5.3 million for FY 2012.
Finally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would
be responsible for developing a database for environmentally-friendly
alternative materials for use in electronic devices, receiving $9
million for fiscal years 2010-2012 to carry out the project.
Perhaps the most prominent amendment made to the original text involved
substituting the phrase "electronic waste" with "electronic devices"
throughout the bill, thus emphasizing the idea of recyclability and
reusability over waste reduction. Under HR 1580, "electronic device" is
defined to include computers, computer monitors, televisions, laptops,
printers, wireless devices, copiers, fax machines, stereos, video gaming
systems and the components of such devices.
Wal Mart Regional Program
Wal-Mart State Giving Program
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart Foundation have a history of supporting the communities they serve. Last year alone, Wal-Mart stores, Sams Clubs and the Wal-Mart Foundation contributed and raised over $400 million, giving back to more than 100,000 charitable and community-based organizations.
To increase the impact of giving, the Wal-Mart Foundation has launched the State Giving Program (SGP). Through this program, the Wal-Mart Foundation will award grants at the state and regional level to support unmet needs... For more information go to:
http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx
Kim Bartels
EPA Region 8
Recycling Coordinator
(303) 312-6346
bartels.kim@epa.gov