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28 28 P P a r t I : a r t I : T r e n d s a n d R e a s o n s t o G o G r e e nr e n d s a n d R e a s o n s t o G o G r e e n

Let’s take a closer look at one specific state—California—to see how it is regulating the
management of e-waste. California is approaching the issue from several angles and seems
to be making good progress with its efforts:

• According to state waste and recycling data, California generated approximately
140,000 tons of covered electrical devices (CEDs) in 2005, with more than 60 million
pounds of this electronic waste taken back for recycling through the program. In
2006, this number rose to more than 120 million tons recycled, as shown next.

California E-Waste Recycled

120,000,000

100,000,000
80,000,000

60,000,000
40,000,000
20,000,000

0
Amount in Tons
2005 2006

• In 2006, the recycling rate for covered electronics was 29 percent, up almost twice
as much as 2005.
• The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) paid out
approximately $61 million in reimbursements to recyclers in 2006.

Electronic Waste Recycling Act On January 1, 2005, California enacted legislation (formally
known as SB 20) to implement an electronic waste recovery and recycling program. The
Electronic Waste Recycling Act is modeled after the European Economic Union’s Product
Stewardship Initiative.
The act’s intent is to provide cost-free recycling opportunities to consumers. The goal of
it is to prevent the illegal dumping of electronic waste and to discourage e-waste “stockpiling.”
The larger goal of the act is to decrease the amount of hazardous materials entering the
municipal solid waste stream.