Shared responsibility for managing electronic waste: A case study of Maine, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, 106 Bailey Hall, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME 04038 (United States)
Based on high disposal and low recycling rates of electronic waste (e-waste) and continued exportation to developing countries, reliance on municipal responsibility for e-waste management has been unsuccessful in the United States. This case study examines Maine's program, which was the first US state to mandate producer responsibility for recycling household e-waste. Maine's program established a shared cost responsibility among producers, municipalities, and consumers. The study found that Maine's program resulted in a significant reduction in disposal and a corresponding increase in environmentally sound recycling. In the first 3 years of the program, 6.406 million kg of household e-waste was collected and recycled for a population of 1.32 million. The new program, implemented in 2006, increased the number of e-waste items collected and recycled by 108% in the first year, 170% in the second year, and 221% in the third year. The program decreased direct economic costs to municipalities and households because of the shared cost approach and for the first time established costs for producers. There was no empirical evidence indicating that producers have or will improve the recyclability of electronic products to reduce recycling costs. While other weaknesses were that found potentially limit the adoption of Maine's program, its positive aspects warrant consideration by other governments.
- OSTI ID:
- 21357627
- Journal Information:
- Waste Management, Vol. 29, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.06.015; PII: S0956-053X(09)00225-6; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
An econometric analysis of regional differences in household waste collection: The case of plastic packaging waste in Sweden
Solid waste management practices and review of recovery and recycling operations in Turkey