14 October 2004 (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A) – The Computer Take-Back Campaign (CTBC) issued comments today to the U.S. Department of Commerce for its Roundtable Discussions beginning today in Washington D.C. on the 3Rs Initiative (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) that decry continuation of a US hazardous waste policy that embraces irresponsible practices such as toxic waste exportation to Asia, using prison labor to process toxic waste, all in the name of recycling.

The Commerce Department's talks are leaning on the “3Rs Initiative” recently adopted by the G-8 at their Sea Island. Georgia 2004 summit, which calls among other things, for the reduction of trade barriers to the international flow of materials for recycling and remanufacturing, and for the cooperation with developing countries for the implementation of recycling projects. CTBC, a coalition of activists working for producer and governmental responsibility in managing the electronic waste crisis, is wary that the present formulation of the initiative pointedly lacks a crucial 4 th R, -- for Responsibility.   Without Responsibility, CTBC fears the 3Rs Initiative will be used to perpetuate business-as-usual and more of the existing unconscionable global trade in toxic waste to developing countries, all in the name of recycling.

“The initiative is one R short and the federal government has promoted a waste policy to date that is one R short and that vital R is Responsibility,” said Sarah Westervelt of the Basel Action Network, and member of the CTBC steering committee. “ As a country we must build up our own infrastructure to manage our own waste safely while providing needed jobs. We must cease considering developing countries or our prison populations as toxic waste colonies and remember that the principle of environmental justice applies equally to everyone on the planet.”

In its comments to the Commerce Department, CTBC points out that currently the United States is the only developed country in the world that has failed to ratify the Basel Convention and continues to work to undermine that Convention's decision to ban the export of toxic wastes for disposal and recycling from developed to developing countries. The ban has already been implemented by 30 of the 37 countries to which it applies. But the US, the world's most wasteful country, is pointedly absent from accepting this global responsibility initiative. They further note that the United States lags behind Europe and Japan in demanding producer responsibility for taking back electronic wastes at end of life and has failed to present Congress with a plan for ensuring such responsibility.

“Waste Management issues are not solved by looking for hiding places downstream, they are solved by preventive measures upstream. We need action from our federal government that provides incentives for producers to phase-out the use of toxics in their processes and products, and eliminates the irresponsible option of outsourcing toxic waste and recycling jobs to Asia ,” said Westervelt.

Contact:

Sarah Westervelt, Basel Action Network (BAN), Steering Committee Member of Computer TakeBack Campaign in Seattle, USA: (office) +1 206.652.5555, e-mail: swestervelt@ban.org, Website: www.ban.org

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF MANUFACTURING
ROUNDTABLE ON THE 3Rs INITIATIVE
(REDUCE WASTE, REUSE AND RECYCLE)
NOTICE OF MEETING

The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Manufacturing is hosting an outreach meeting to discuss the 3Rs Initiative (Reduce waste, Reuse and Recycle) that was introduced by the Government of Japan and supported by the U.S. at the 2004 G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia.  The following objectives for the Initiative were established by the G-8 nations.

1) Reduce waste, reuse and recycle resources and products to the extent feasible
2) Reduce barriers to the international flow of goods and materials for recycling and remanufacturing, recycled and remanufactured products, and cleaner, more efficient technologies, consistent with existing environmental and trade obligations and frameworks;
3) Encourage cooperation among various stakeholders (central governments, local governments, the
private sector, NGOs and communities), including voluntary and market-based activities;
4) Promote science and technology suitable for 3Rs; and
5) Cooperate with developing countries in such areas as capacity building, raising public awareness, human resource development and implementation of recycling projects.

It was further agreed at Sea Island that Japan would host a Ministerial level conference on the Initiative.  This has been scheduled by the Government of Japan for April 28-30, 2005 in Tokyo. The White House Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is leading an interagency effort to determine what the United States shall attempt to accomplish through the 3Rs Initiative and the policy approaches for the Ministerial Conference. Joseph H. Bogosian, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, is hosting this meeting in order to solicit input from all interested stakeholders including representatives of manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and environmental organizations.

The following points may be useful as an aide for discussion:

1. Definition of “re-used” goods. Varying industries define it differently:
a.        Remanufactured
b.        Refurbished
c.        "Re-used" as distinguished from "used" goods

2.   Trade and Market Access Issues (impacting inbound products and exports)
3.        Standards Issues
4.        Recycling Incentives
5.        Possible Models
a.        Product approach
b.        Process approach
6.        Best Practices from Earlier Trade Agreements, and Existing Legal and Regulatory Barriers
7.        Benefits to:
a.        The Environment
b.        The Economy and Jobs

The event is open to the public and the press.  Please RSVP and submit any written comments to 3RsInitiative@mail.doc.gov.  Please include your name, phone number, and organization affiliation.

DATE:  Thursday, October 14, 2004
TIME:  1:00pm- 4:00pm
ADDRESS:  U.S. Department of Commerce Auditorium, 1401 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20230.  Enter through the Department of Commerce main entrance on 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues. Bring a photo ID for security purposes. This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Sarah E. Aker, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, Department of Commerce, Room 2132, 1401 Constitution Ave, Washington, DC, 20230 (Phone: 202-482-1124).