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Electronics
Electronics Topics
Our "plugged-in" world relies on an ever-growing and constantly changing supply of electronic products. Electronic equipment currently represents only 1 to 2 percent of the country's waste stream, but it is growing quickly. The rapid introduction of new electronic products shows no sign of abating, as better, smaller, and cheaper products replace "older" models. Electronic products, especially the less recent models, may contain a variety of toxic constituents. For example, computer monitors and circuit boards often include hazardous constituents such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Industry is working to reduce the presence of these toxics, but sometimes there are trade-offs that must be assessed, like mercury backlights in flat panel displays that offer energy efficiency benefits.
This growing, changing product stream presents new challenges and responsibilities in designing and managing electronic products to reduce their life-cycle environmental impacts. By applying the principles of product stewardship, electronic equipment can be made with fewer toxic constituents and designed with upgradability, durability, and recyclability in mind, making these product systems more sustainable.
At EPA, our electronics work, including and beyond our product stewardship program, is anchored by three goals to reduce the environmental impacts of electronic products:
- Foster environmentally conscious design and manufacturing
- Increase purchasing and use of more environmentally sustainable electronics
- Increase safe, environmentally sound reuse and recycling of used electronics
To promote these goals, EPA is engaged in several programs. See also the Green Initiatives—Electronics Action Plan, part of EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC).