Electronics Reuse/Recycling Policy

Environmental Health & Safety

Finance and Administration

University of Florida

OBJECTIVE

To provide guidance for University of Florida departments regarding the disposal/recycling of electronic equipment.

AUTHORITY

The Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations governing Hazardous Waste as published in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Parts 260-270.

POLICY

Electronics Disposal/Recycling (UFEH&S-HMM-05/15/2006)

RESPONSIBILITIES

Environmental Health and Safety will:

• Establish written policy to assure compliance with environmental criteria.
• Maintain hazardous material disposal records and interface with federal and state environment authorities.
• Identify and evaluate vendors that can handle the disposal and or recycling.
• Assist F&A in educating the university community regarding the criteria and need for disposal program.

Finance and Accounting / Asset Management will:

• Establish procedure for the collection of surplus monitors and CPUs in accordance with Asset Managements policy.
• Work with approved vendors in the transfer of surplus equipment.
• Assume financial responsibility for the disposal program.
• Work cooperatively with EH&S to educate the university community.

PROCEDURES

Background

The EPA/FDEP has determined that cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in computer monitors and televisions contain significant amounts of lead.  Research shows that the lead will leach from landfills and can pose a hazard to the environment when disposed of in landfills.

EPA has further determined that computers and other electronic equipment contain heavy metals in their circuit boards and batteries, which can also pose a hazard to the environment and that many of these items are hazardous waste when improperly disposed.

Further the University has determined that regardless of its status as hazardous waste land-filling of these items as solid waste is not an appropriate disposal option for electronic waste.

It is the intent of University of Florida to administer a program to sell or have recycled/de-manufactured the monitors, CPUs and electronic waste’s which are no longer useful to the University.  Those who receive these materials from UF must be qualified recyclers/demanufacturers or purchasers that can demonstrate the proper use or recycling of each unit.

Regulatory Status

While CRTs would be hazardous waste when disposed of, they are not captured by hazardous waste regulation when properly re-used or recycled. Similarly, the CPUs from the computers and other electronic wastes can be re-used or recycled without being handled as hazardous waste if that re-use or recycled meets regulatory requirements.

CRTs, CPUs and other electronic wastes may not be placed into the solid waste disposal system.

*Eligible purchasers, recyclers, and demanufacturers

Entities eligible for purchasing, recycling, or demanufacturing CRTs, CPUs, and other electronic wastes from UF must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of UF EH&S that they meet the FDEP minimum standards for recyclers and that the materials will be properly used or recycled.  The Division of Environmental Health and Safety will audit prospective vendors’ facilities and procedures prior to their receiving any units from UF. Single units sales consisting of working CRT’s and working, useable CPU’s to individuals are not prohibited as long as this procedure is not used to circumvent the intent of this policy.

Disposal Procedures

All electronic waste described by this policy shall be disposed of in accordance with this and the Procedures for Re-Using and/or Recycling of University of Florida Electronic Equipment established by the Finance and Administration's Department of Asset Management.