The term “eWaste” is broadly defined as obsolete, surplus, or broken electrical or electronic devices, but may include a variety of equipment (see the Recyclable Postal Service eWaste list). Improper disposal of eWaste could be harmful to human health and the environment as it generally contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exporting eWaste has resulted in “third world” dumping, which poses serious environmental and public health threats.1 eWaste also puts confidential or proprietary information at risk.2 Therefore, the USPS® has developed policies for managing eWaste: 1) secure data destruction, 2) recycling and reuse, and 3) landfill avoidance.
According to recent EPA studies, 2009 sales of new consumer electronics in the United States doubled over the previous 10-year period. In that same year:
n 438 million consumer electronics were sold.
n 5 million tons of electronics were placed in storage.
n 2.37 million tons were ready for end-of-life management.
n Only 25 percent of this tonnage was collected for recycling.
Until we can maximize reuse and recycling of this equipment, eWaste will continue to pose serious environmental challenges.
Similarly, the USPS continues to upgrade its information technology platform with the concurrent challenge of re-alignment, consolidation, and downsizing of our delivery network. As a result, USPS generation of eWaste will substantially increase over the next several years. USPS Supply Management entered into an innovative revenue sharing contract in 2011 with Asset LifeCycle, LLC at our Topeka Material Distribution Center, to promote the collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal of our electronic equipment.
Our selected vendor, Asset Life Cycle, is a third party certified “responsible recycler” in R2 and eStewardship, along with being a Postal Inspection Service certified secure site. Third party certifications ensure advance best management practices and offer a way to assess the environmental, worker health, and security practices of entities managing our used electronics. In 2013, this partnership resulted in the recycling and repurposing of over 1,512 tons of eWaste and over $1.25 Million in revenue to the Postal Service from profit-sharing, as compared to 950 tons and $740,000 in 2012. For FY 2014, the program is expected to once again double the USPS recycled tonnage and revenue. It pays to recycle your eWaste within the Postal Service.
For USPS employees and participating Federal agencies, the USPS has developed a way to recycle electronics through the current mail system — and it is FREE. The USPS BlueEarth™ Federal Recycling Program is an eWaste recycling program that is intended to supplement an agency or individual’s existing recycling program. Some of the items that this program recycles are small electronics and printer cartridges at no cost to U.S. Federal agencies and its employees. It’s easy to launch and use by simply packaging the approved items in a box, going online to http://blueearth.usps.gov to print a label, and affixing the label to the box. Leave the box for the Postal Service carrier and you’re done. The USPS is assisting U.S. Federal agencies to be greener by allowing the customer agencies and their employees to recycle qualified end of life products FREE of charge.
n ACE Hardware and Equipment. Contact your local IT office to get accountability, collection, and shipping procedures for shipping ACE hardware and equipment to the Topeka Material Distribution Center.
n Processing and Distributions Centers. Follow MMO 04212, which provides instructions for shipping eWaste to the Topeka Material Distribution Center. Click the link for instructions: http://blue.usps.gov/sustainability/electronic_stewardship.htm.
n Post Offices. Contact your local IT office for ACE-related hardware and equipment. Other eWastes (see the Recyclable Postal Service eWaste list) may be shipped directly to the Topeka Material Distribution Center.
n Electronic Security-Related Equipment. Contact your local Postal Inspection Service Field Office.
Make sure your office is recycling its eWaste to ensure these items are generating revenue, rather than being placed in the trash. To take advantage of this nationwide eWaste recycling program, go to the sustainability website and download the instructions for sending your obsolete or non-functioning equipment to the Topeka Material Distribution Center. The eWaste shipping instructions are available at: http://blue.usps.gov/sustainability/electronic_stewardship.htm.
For more information on this program, contact the Office of Sustainability via email at Sustainability@usps.gov.
n Desktop computer, laptop computer, docking stations, and related power cords.
n CRT and LCD monitors.
n CD players, DVD players, optical drives, and modems.
n Circuit boards, PC boards, CPU, integrated chips, and finger cards.
n Cisco equipment.
n Tape backup equipment and data types.
n Calculators and electric typewriters.
n Point of sale equipment (POS).
n Hard drives, keyboards, and mice.
n Copiers, printers, plotters, and faxes.
n Network equipment, surge protectors, and wires and cables.
n Printer supplies (toner and ink).
n Overhead projectors.
n Fax machines and scanners.
n Cell phones, chargers, and wireless devices.
n Car chargers.
n Telephones, pagers, answering machines, adapters, and cords.
n Global positioning systems (GPS), cords, and chargers.
n Personal digital assistants (PDAs).
n Televisions, VCRs, DVD players, and speakers.
n Labeling and laminating machines.
n Cameras, camcorders, video and sound equipment, adapters, and cables.
n Microwaves and small electrical appliances.
n Power tools.
n Electric motors and fans.
n Switches.
n Universal power supply.
n Test equipment (voltage meters and field instruments).
n Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
n Digital signs and sign board readers.
n Whitebox systems.
