For immediate release: Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Contact: Oversight and Government Reform Press Office, (202) 225-5051

Chairman Towns Highlights Need for Government Reduction of E-Waste

WASHINGTON – Chairman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) today raised questions about the Federal government’s commitment to reducing levels of electronic waste (e-waste).  A recent study by the Office of the Federal Environment Executive found that while computer hardware usually lasts about seven years, most Federal equipment has a shelf life of three years, and that the government disposes of approximately half a million computers annually.  The waste from these discarded machines includes several chemicals like lead and mercury whose danger to public health and the environment are widely known. Furthermore, the companies tasked by the Federal government to safely discard e-waste are known to frequently exploit EPA regulations.

In letters to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson and General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Martha Johnson, Chairman Towns requested an explanation of what steps the Federal government can take to reduce e-waste.  Chairman Towns explained that he wants the EPA to enforce e-waste regulations more stringently, and urged the agency to ensure that e-waste is not being improperly exported.  Additionally, the Chairman requested that Administrator Jackson explain EPA’s decision to reject GAO’s recommendations and what steps it is taking to enforce its existing regulations relating to e-waste.

A 2008 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study found that several private companies are circumventing existing EPA regulations and exploiting loopholes to export e-waste to developing countries where it is disposed or recycled unsafely.  GAO recommended that EPA implement an enforcement plan to address their regulations of common e-waste components and that EPA consider broadening its regulations of electronic components.  According to GAO, EPA declined to adopt the recommendations.

As a result of the well documented abuses by some e-waste recyclers, voluntary programs have emerged to ensure the safe treatment of e-waste.  For example, the EPA, in conjunction with other entities, has developed the “Responsible Recycling” or “R2” certification process to ensure proper e-waste procedures.  Further, Executive Order 13423, signed on January 24, 2007 and codified February 17, 2009, mandates that agencies use “environmentally sound practices with respect to disposition of agency electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.”  GSA maintains a list of 60 waste recycling contractors, but it appears only two companies on the list are R2 certified.

Chairman Towns stressed in his letter to GSA Administrator Johnson his concern that the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) do not adequately direct agencies to companies with the highest e-waste recycling standards and that there may be a lack of oversight of e-waste recycling.  Chairman Towns acknowledged that while some steps have been taken, not enough is being done to ensure that Federal agencies contract with responsible companies to dispose and recycle government e-waste.

The full text of both letters is included below.

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Documents and Links

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Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

Letter from Chairman Edolphus towns to GSA Administrator Martha Johnson