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spacer.gifSustainable Environmental Stewardship
Waste Prevention and Recycling Green Purchasing Electronics Stewardship
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Electronics Stewardship

Introduction

The worldwide revolution in consumer electronic products - which include computers and peripherals, televisions, cellular phones, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, video cameras, fax and copying machines, and video game consoles - has had both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Electronics enable us to make information exchange quicker and easier; reduce our need to move people, products, and information by conventional means; and allow us to cut traffic, save energy, and reduce pollution. But electronics have come under scrutiny recently for the impacts that their manufacture, use, and disposal have on the environment and human health. Also, waste from electronics are the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S., the electronics recycling rate is low, and electronics contain various chemicals and heavy metals that could pose environmental risks.

Governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations are looking to better manage electronics in an environmentally responsible manner. And as the world's largest purchaser of electronic products and services, the federal government has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to provide leadership in environmentally sound practices and cost-effective, life-cycle management of our electronic assets. Accordingly, federal agencies are taking a closer look at the design, procurement, operations, and end-of-life management of electronics to identify steps that can be taken to reduce the burdens that these products have on our environment.

Provided below are links to various projects, resources, and events geared towards responsible environmental management of electronics: