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Electronics Resources
 EU Legislation
HCWH Publications
Other Resources
Links
Recent News on Electronics
EU Legislation
Laws in the European Union:
Directive 2002/95/ EC on Restriction of Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electric and Electronic Equipment
Directive 2003/108/EC on Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment
Both Directives are to tackle the fast increasing waste stream of electric and electronic equipment by providing incentives to produce environmentally friendly products and force manufacturers to take back the disposed electric and electronic waste and recycle it properly.
HCWH Publications
Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines for Information Technology (IT) Equipment in Health Care
Guidelines for addressing the environmental and public health threats of electronic products through purchasing preferences and manufacturers' design. Prepared by Computer TakeBack Campaign and Health Care Without Harm
Part I: The Issue
Part II: Procurement Matrix for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
and Vendors
Part III: Post Contract Reporting Requirements for Continual Improvement
Part IV: Recommendations for the Bid Development Process
Part V: Sample Procurement Evaluation Tool with Excel spreadsheet
Brominated Flame Retardants: Rising Levels of Concern (pdf)
This June 2005 report summarizes the latest scientific research on halogenated brominated flame retardants, including their toxicity, persistence, and presence in humans and wildlife. Also see HCWH's BFR fact sheet. (pdf)
What Health Care Purchasers Can Do To Reduce Flame Retardants (pdf)
Healthier Choices for Electronic Equipment: From Procurement to End-of-Life (pdf)
A ten-step guide from Hospitals for a Healthy Environment that provides step-by-step information on managing electronic products while keeping health, safety and compliance as priorities.
Other Resources
Recycling Resources
“Exporting Harm” (Video Documentary)
This 23 minute film documents the real consequences of exporting e-waste to developing countries for “recycling.” Produced by the Basel Action Network (BAN) and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. This film can be ordered from BAN's website.
Electronic Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship
Three Laws of Technology Recycling (PowerPoint)
Presentation given by Robert Houghton, President of Redemtech, Inc., on electronics asset recovery and healthcare.
Procurement Resources
Health Concerns and Electronics: Why healthcare should care (PowerPoint)
Presentation given by Ted Smith, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition at Cleanmed 2004 about the environmental and social costs of the electronics industry and why healthcare should care.
Catholic Healthcare West and Electronics Procurement (PowerPoint)
Presentation given by Mary Ellen Leciejewski, OP, Ecology Coordinator for Catholic Healthcare West hospitals, at Cleanmed 2004 about the steps they are taking to embed environmental and social criteria in to their hospitals’ electronic procurement contracts.
Greening Electronics Purchasing Decisions (PowerPoint)
Presentation given by Anne Peters, President Gracestone, Inc., at Cleanmed 2004 on how to incorporate environmental and social concerns in bids for electronic products.
Environmentally Preferable Procurement for Electronics (PowerPoint)
Presentation on the issues related to electronics procurement and environmental responsibility.
Fifth Annual Computer Report Card
The Report Card, issued annually by the Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition and the Computer TakeBack Campaign (CTBC), analyzes computer companies’ published standards, compares and measures the environmental qualities of electronic equipment and grades the overall environmental performance of companies.
Environmentally Preferable Practices for Electronics: Procurement to End-of-Life (PowerPoint)
Reports and Related Information
A present for Life: hazardous chemicals in umbilical cord blood (pdf)
A report issued by WWF and Greenpeace on chemicals contamination of unborn children, illustrating the wide presence of brominated flame retardants, mercury and other toxic substances in human body.
Distribution and Fate of HBCD and TBBPA Brominated Flame Retardants in North Sea Estuaries and Aquatic Food Webs (pdf)
A report issued by WWF on environmental contamination with brominated flame retardants.
Brominated Flame Retardants in Dust on Computers: The Case for Safer Chemicals and Better Computer Design
In the first US-wide tests for brominated flame retardants in dust swiped from computers, the Computer Take-Back Campaign (CTBC) and Clean Production Action (CPA) found these neurotoxic chemicals on every computer sampled. The highest levels found were a form of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) called deca-BDE— one of the most widely used fire retardant chemicals in the electronics industry.
DecaBDE: An Investigation of Non-Halogen Substitutes in Electronic Enclosure and Textile Applications (pdf)
This April 2005 report by the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production examines safer alternatives to decaBDE, a flame retardant used in electronics.
Links
Basel Action Network (BAN)
The Basel Action Network (BAN) works to prevent the globalization of the toxic waste crisis. BAN works to prevent trade in toxic waste exported from rich to poorer countries, and to promote global environmental justice and a toxics-free world. Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)
Valuable information and resources for ‘greener’ hospital facilities. Topics include: eliminating mercury use, environmentally preferable purchasing, waste reduction and green design in building facilities. H2E is a joint project of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the American Hospital Association, the American Nurses Association and Health Care Without Harm.
Computer TakeBack Campaign The goal of the Computer TakeBack Campaign is to protect the health and well-being of electronic users, workers, and the communities where electronics are produced and discarded by requiring consumer electronics manufacturers and brand owners to take full responsibility for the life cycle of their products, through effective public policy requirements or enforceable agreements.
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Resources, technical documents, slide presentations, report cards, and directories on computer recycling, sustainable water programs, and international efforts to reduce the impacts of the electronic industry on the environment and public health.
Recent News on Electronics
11/1/06. European Parliament takes the Commission to the European Court of Justice over Deca-BDE exemption from RoHS Directive. See press release (pdf).
20/10/05: The EU Commission plows ahead to unban a very hazardous flame retardant. Deca-BDE is to be unbanned despite the fact that safer alternatives are available and leading companies are moving toward phasing it out from their products. Read the press release (pdf).
23/6/05: Evidence mounts about problematic flame retardants. Read the new BFR report (pdf) and fact sheet (pdf). Read an open letter by NGOs urging EU ministers to keep the ban on deca-BDE in electronics. Read how healthcare purchasers can address flame retardants here.
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