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Guidelines for Materials Management

Guidelines for Materials Management is the new, voluntary guidance tailor-made for EPA's Plug-In To eCycling partners, who will test the provisions and provide information about the most effective and practical methods for safely managing used electronic equipment.

Because the new Guidelines will be used as a framework for Plug-In partnership eligibility, they not only spell out preferred waste management practices for used electronic products, but also define qualifying Plug-In partners.

Partnership in Plug-In to eCycling is now limited to manufacturers, retailers, government agencies, and nonprofit businesses that engage in collection of used electronic equipment only. At the present time, EPA cannot take the steps necessary to verify that recyclers are implementing the environmentally safe management guidelines. Thus we are not able to accept recyclers, refurbishers, reusers and others who handle discarded electronics as Plug-In partners. To provide recognition for those who practice a high standard of electronics recycling, we will be working to identify entities that can certify recyclers and other handlers to these guidelines. In the meantime, we expect manufacturers, retailers, governments and others who are directly contracting with recyclers and others for recycling and refurbishment services to verify their adherence to these guidelines. While primarily applicable to Plug-In partners, the Guidelines encourage anyone who handles used electronic equipment to:

In addition to ensuring environmentally safe recycling of old electronics, these Guidelines aim to promote and maintain adequate markets for the reuse and recycling of electronic equipment by providing safe, reusable equipment or industrial feedstock materials to legitimate markets, wherever they exist.

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