A Better Way:Product Stewardship

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NWPSC Strategies

• Steering Committee – all governments• Strategies

– Speak with a united, well-informed voice (EPR Think Tank)

– Education, communication and stakeholder engagement

– Pilots of key significance– Providing delegates to national dialogues (PSI) and

comment on national activities– Policy development and legislation– Coordination/sharing with other Councils (PPI)

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Take It Back Network

• Identified local need to prepare for e-waste tsunami

• Participated in National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative

• Wanted convenient widespread collections – far more than what government could provide or finance

• “As easy to recycle as it is to buy”

• Created in partnership with retailers, charities, environmental groups and local governments

• Successful take back program spurred passage of Washington state electronic waste law in 2006

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Washington2006

Oregon2007

Electronic Waste Laws Passed

The Basics:

Product manufacturers implement & finance recycling program throughout the state

No state tax or fee charged to the consumer at point of purchase or end of life

Covered Products - computers, computer monitors, laptop computers and televisions

Geographic “convenience” requirement

Program Implementation Date – January 1, 2009

Washington and Oregon’s EPR E-waste Laws

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What This Means for Washington State

Washington State– Service in all 39 counties

– Service in all cities with population greater than 10,000

– Currently 214 collection sites

– New businesses started

– New processors establishing in state

– First 8 months of operation – over 25.8 Million lbs.

– If trend continues then heading for 5.8 lbs per capita per year

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What We THOUGHT This Would Mean for Snohomish County

Snohomish County – 3 public transfer stations provide collection

• $370,000 in current costs removed since transportation and recycling is covered by producers

• Payment of $.09 per lb. collected projected to

yield payment of $180,000 in 09.

• Total value to Sno Co = $550,000 per year

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What It Actually Meant for Snohomish County in First 6 Months

Snohomish County – 3 public transfer stations provide collection

• $336,000 in current costs removed since transportation and recycling is covered by manufacturers

• Payment of $.09 per lb. collected yielded

payment of $170,000 in first 6 months.

• Total value to Sno Co = $506,000 per 6 months!

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What This Means for Snohomish County

Just in Snohomish County (pop. 680,000)– Currently 17 additional private/charity locations with

similar benefits, including Goodwill – Program available to:

• 275,000 households

• 18 of our 19 cities and towns

• 200 schools and school districts

• 1,150 charities

• 90 special service districts, like libraries

• 20,000 small businesses with 50 employees or less

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Big Surprise: The Economy

Snohomish County – Had to rapidly downsize solid waste staffing– Through union negotiations management agreed

layoffs would happen across all work groups– 25% staff reduction included discontinuing

electronics collection at 3 transfer stations– Possible due to 17 other locations providing

collection service in county– Perfect example of EPR providing local government

flexibility.

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DangerousMedicine Return Pilot (Pharmacy Take Back Program)

PSI National Pharmaceutical Dialogue

Legislation

Pharmed Fish

British Columbia’s program: a model

• Ongoing program since 1996

• Serves 4 million people

• No fee to user

• 856 pharmacies participating– User friendly for pharmacy

– Pick-up schedule easy and on-demand

• Collected 53,000 lbs in 2007

• Total cost $300,000 in 2007

Safe Medicine Return Pilot:Group Health and Bartell Drugs

Safe Medicine Return Pilot:Group Health and Bartell Drugs

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Toxic Take it Back Network (Retailer Program)

PSI National Fluorescent Lighting Dialogue

Legislation

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Wasteful PSI National Paint Dialogue (PPSI)

NW Paint Workgroup

Legislation

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Frustrating

…when addressed on a product by product basis!

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Don’t Get Frustrated!

Get Framework!

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A Pattern is Developingfor EPR Policy

• Producers Have Primary Responsibility– Independent or Collective Programs

• Use Stewardship Organization– Responsible for financing and organizing collection

through processing (remove costs from governments)

– Develop and submit plans and annual reports

• Shared Responsibility – others have roles

• No legislated fees – costs are internalized

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EPR Pattern Yields Framework Approach

Government sets level field,

performance standards, prioritizes

products

Government ensures transparency,

accountability

Producers design plans and finance,

as a condition for sale

Why not make this approach

standardized for multiple products?

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Joint Framework Principles CA, NW, VT, BC, TX