Electronic Product Management

California Electronic Waste Recycling Act
General Stakeholder Meeting:
November 5, 2007

As the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003  (SB 20 and SB 50, Sher) is implemented, meetings and workshops will be occasionally held to inform affected stakeholders and other interested parties.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) hosted a general stakeholder meeting for participants in the covered electronic waste (CEW) recovery and recycling payment system to discuss the status of, and challenges facing, the program. The workshop was held on Monday, November 5, 2007, at the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building in Sacramento and lasted from 9AM until approximately 4PM. A link to an agenda for the day is provided below.

A general audio "webcast" was available for the proceedings. Web-based participants were able to submit comments and questions via e-mail during the event through the ewaste@calrecycle.ca.gov address.

Details
The CEW recovery and recycling payment system has been operating under permanent regulations for nearly a year.

The format of the meeting was a structured and moderated conversation, seeking to facilitate substantive discussion between program and participants, and between participants themselves, on a range of topics.

The purpose for holding this meeting was to explore several issues facing the program, including:

• The payment system has been operating under more stringent documentation requirements since November 2006 when the permanent regulations were approved. How is that going?
• The respective roles of collector and recycler are in flux, with industry dynamics placing pressures on each party that affects their ability to fulfill intended responsibilities. Is tighter regulation necessary?
• Market conditions are fluctuating for many of the residuals derived from covered electronic waste, leading to questions regarding the appropriateness of the payment system structure and rates. What does the future hold?
• The program is reaching the critical *money in, money out* threshold of revenue vs. program costs, which could lead to recommendations that payment rates and/or advance recycling fees be adjusted to maintain fiscal integrity.
• The program continues to field allegations that SB 20 in general, and/or the CIWMB`s implementation of the Act in particular, has adversely affected the reuse industry. Is this true?

This meeting was not intended to be a grand summit on e-waste management in general in California, nor was it a rulemaking exercise. However, issues that were discussed at the meeting will inform possible future regulatory considerations. The meeting should be viewed as an opportunity for both the CIWMB and system participants to better understand the implications, consequences, and realities that the program faces, and to continue what has been a robust and open dialog with stakeholders since the program's inception.

Background Documents and Links:

• Audio "WebCast" of workshop (links will be live on day of meeting).
• Meeting Agenda (Adobe PDF, 42 KB)
• Meeting Overview (Adobe PDF, 163 KB) slides that will be presented at meeting.
• Link to final regulations Unofficial version of regulation text hosted on the CIWMB website.
• Other statutory and regulatory background.

To maximize meaningful participation, stakeholders were encouraged to review applicable statutes and regulations, and to prepare specific questions prior to attending the meeting. To ensure that key issues are covered, questions could be sent during the meeting to ewaste@calrecycle.ca.gov.

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