Electronics Basic Information, Research, and Initiatives

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Basic Information about Electronics Stewardship

Sustainable Approaches for Every Stage of the Electronics Life Cycle

Sustainably managing electronics by reducing the amount of materials used, increasing reuse, refurbishing and extending the life of products, and recycling electronics can help reduce the amount of waste that needs to be managed domestically and globally. Examining a product’s entire life cycle can uncover new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources, and reduce costs.

The graphic below shows each life cycle stage, which are described in more depth under the graphic. Some electronics manufacturers have adopted innovative approaches to ensure electronic products are sustainably sourced, designed, and managed throughout their life cycles. The companies mentioned here have received awards from EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge for these practices.

Sustainably managing electronics by reducing the amount of materials used, increasing reuse, refurbishing and extending the life of products, and recycling electronics can help reduce the amount of waste that needs to be managed domestically and globally. Examining a product’s entire life cycle can uncover new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources, and reduce costs.

A circular life cycle of electronic products includes the following stages:

Sourcing Materials

Materials such as iron, gold, aluminum, palladium, platinum, lithium, copper, and plastics play crucial roles in the high-tech electronics products that affect our daily lives. These materials are extracted from the earth, transported, processed, refined, and incorporated into products. These activities use large amounts of energy and produce greenhouse gas emissions, pollute the environment, and deplete our natural resources. Reducing materials can save natural resources, conserve energy, and reduce pollution.

Product Design and Manufacturing

Designing and manufacturing electronics with the environment in mind is critical for developing more sustainable products. Source reduction, also known as waste prevention, is important in design and manufacturing, as electronics that have less impact on human health and the environment often use less materials overall, use more recycled materials, are more durable, and are recyclable.

Product Procurement and Use

A first step in using electronics sustainably involves educating consumers about sustainable purchasing choices. Learn about innovative approaches for product procurement and use.

Manufacturers have a responsibility to create durable, long-lasting, reusable, and recyclable products, but consumers also play a significant role in maintaining their electronics.

Collection

Community drop-off points, certain retailers, and manufacturers through mail-in, take-back, and warranty programs collect electronics. These collection entities either send reusable electronics to recovery facilities to be reused, refurbished, and resold, or to recycling facilities to be sorted, cleaned, and processed into materials that can be used again in manufacturing. After collection, reusable electronics are refurbished and resold, and recyclables are sent to recycling facilities to be sorted, cleaned, and processed into materials that can be used again in manufacturing.

Reuse and Refurbishing

Refurbished electronics are electronics that have been updated and repaired for resale. Reusing electronics extends product life spans and contributes to the source reduction of raw materials.

Recycling

Recycling includes sorting, dismantling, mechanically separating, and recovering valuable materials. Recycling used electronics can yield materials (e.g., gold, copper, glass, aluminum) that can be returned to the supply chain to be reused, reducing raw materials used and the need for disposal of the used electronics.

Sustainable Electronics Management

Electronic devices and technologies continue to advance and increase in number. These technologies have become critical to our way of life and to our growing economy. With these technologies, however, comes the increasing challenge of protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects associated with their improper handling and disposal.

A long-term sustainable approach towards electronics stewardship is necessary both at work and at home. With the prevalence of electronics in mind, the federal government is committed to being a responsible consumer of electronics and a leader of electronics stewardship in the United States. Sustainable electronics management involves the following practices:

Reusing and donating electronics

Preventing waste in the first place is preferable to any waste management option, including recycling. Donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time.

Recycling electronics

If donation for reuse or repair is not a viable option, households and business can send their used electronics for recycling.

Buying green

Environmentally responsible electronics use involves not only proper end-of-life disposition of obsolete equipment, but also purchasing new equipment that has been designed with environmentally preferable attributes.

Benefits of Electronics Stewardship

Increasing sustainable electronics management efforts can create green jobs, lead to more productive reuse of valuable materials, increase the value of American exports, and support a vibrant American recycling and refurbishing industry. If done properly, the United States can increase its domestic recycling efforts, reduce harm from exports of electronics waste (e-waste) being handled unsafely in developing countries, strengthen domestic and international markets for viable and functional used electronic products, and prevent health and environmental threats at home and abroad.

Recycling electronics helps reduce pollution that would be generated while manufacturing a new product and the need to extract valuable and limited virgin resources. Electronic recycling also reduces the energy used in new product manufacturing.

Donating electronics allows schools, nonprofit organizations and lower-income families to obtain equipment that they otherwise could not afford. Businesses can also take advantage of tax incentives for donated computer equipment.

Green electronics contain fewer toxic constituents. The use of recycled materials in new products promotes the following benefits:

  • More energy efficient (e.g., showing the Energy Star label).
  • More easily upgraded or disassembled.
  • Use minimal packaging.
  • Offers leasing or takeback options.
  • Meets performance criteria and shows they are more environmentally preferable.

Regulations for Electronics Stewardship

Rules for Managing Cathode Ray Tubes

A cathode ray tube (CRT) is the glass video display component of an electronic device, usually a computer or television monitor. CRT funnel glass generally contains high enough concentrations of lead that the glass is regulated as hazardous waste when disposed. CRTs and CRT glass were once easily recycled into new CRTs, however, the demand for new CRTs has collapsed in favor of new flat panel technologies. Because of rising costs, negative economic incentives and shifts in CRT glass markets, some CRT processors and recyclers are choosing to store the glass indefinitely rather than send it for recycling or disposal, which increases the risk of mismanagement and/or abandonment of CRTs.

In 2006, EPA amended its regulations to streamline management requirements for recycling of used CRTs and glass removed from CRTs. The amendments excluded these materials from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act definition of solid waste, if certain conditions are met (see title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations in Section 261.4(a)(22)). On June 18, 2014, EPA finalized revisions to the export provisions of the 2006 CRT final rule. These changes allow the Agency to obtain additional information to better track exports of CRTs for reuse and recycling in order to ensure safe management of these materials.

Find out more about EPA's CRT regulations, including information on the 2014 final rule.

Assessment Tools for Electronics Stewardship

Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator

The downloadable Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator (EEBC) (last bullet titled "Benefits Calculator") estimates the environmental benefits of improving the purchasing, use and disposal of computer products; specifically computer desktops, liquid crystal display (LCD) and cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and computer notebooks/laptops. The EEBC also calculates the benefits of mobile phone reuse and recycling, and of recycling mixed loads of electronic equipment. Find out more information about using the EEBC.

Waste Reduction Model

EPA created the Waste Reduction Model to help solid waste planners and organizations track and voluntarily report greenhouse gas emissions reductions and energy savings from several different waste management practices, including sustainable electronics management.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a procurement tool created to help institutional purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare, and select desktop computers, notebooks, and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent performance criteria for product design and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their products.

State Electronics Laws

Twenty-five U.S. states (plus the District of Columbia) currently have electronics recycling laws. The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) developed an interactive map that helps to find out detailed information on state regulations, including a brief summary and link to the laws as well as key dates. Visit NCERs website to find out more about state electronics laws.

Related Information

A Sustainable Materials Management approach seeks to:

  • Use materials in the most productive way with an emphasis on using less.
  • Reduce toxic chemicals and environmental impacts throughout the material lifecycle.
  • Assure we have sufficient resources to meet today’s needs and those of the future.

Information on materials used in electronics are available in the following U.S. Geological Survey publications:

Certified Electronics Recyclers

What Are Certified Electronics Recyclers?

EPA encourages all electronics recyclers to become certified by demonstrating to an accredited, independent third-party auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage electronics. Currently two accredited certification standards exist: the Responsible Recycling ("R2") Standard for Electronics Recyclers and the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment® ("e-Stewards®"). Both programs provide the following benefits:

  • Advance best management practices
  • Offer a way to assess the environmental, worker health, and security practices of entities managing used electronics
  • Are based on strong environmental standards that maximize reuse and recycling, minimize exposure to human health or the environment, ensure safe management of materials by downstream handlers, and require destruction of all data on used electronics

Certified electronics recyclers have demonstrated through audits and other means that they continually meet specific high environmental standards and safely manage used electronics. Once certified, continual oversight by the independent accredited certifying body holds the recycler to the particular standard.

The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is the organization that accredits certifying bodies in the United States. They provide an updated list of which certifying body has attained accreditation to which standard.

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Recycler

Responsible electronics recycling provides important benefits, such as the following:

  • Reducing environmental and human health impacts from improper recycling
  • Increasing access to quality reusable and refurbished equipment to those who need it
  • Reducing energy use and other environmental impacts associated with mining and processing of virgin materials, conserving our limited natural resources

Getting Certified

Electronics recyclers can visit the R2 and e-Stewards® websites to learn how to become a certified electronics recycler.

How to Find a Certified Recycler

For Businesses, Governments and Large Purchasers

EPA recommends using certified electronics recyclers to manage unwanted used electronics. Currently, there are two accredited certification standards in the United States: R2 and e-Stewards®. Both programs advance best management practices and offer a way to assess the environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices of entities managing used electronics. The links below will direct you to websites detailing locations of certified recyclers in these two programs and the services they provide. Examples of services include, but are not limited to, data security and asset management.

For Households

For households with smaller amounts of used electronics to donate or recycle, you can find collection programs that use certified recyclers by clicking on the links below. Before donating or recycling your used electronics, follow the important tips on Electronics Donation and Recycling.

  • GreenerGadgets accepts all types of electronics.
  • Call2Recycle accepts cell phones and rechargeable and single use batteries.
  • Donation and recycling options developed by Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge participants.

Disclaimer: These sites are listed for informational purposes only. U.S. EPA does not endorse any of these entities nor their services.

Implementation Study of the Electronics Recycling Standards: R2 and e-Stewards

EPA’s Implementation Study of the Responsible Recycling ("R2") Standard for Electronics Recyclers and the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment© ("e-Stewards®") recycling standards fulfills a key commitment under the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship, which tasks the federal government to lead by example in encouraging the environmentally preferable design and responsible management of used electronics. The study found that overall, the e-Stewards® and R2 certification programs are generally being implemented well with opportunities for improvement identified in many of the topic areas assessed in the study. EPA offers suggested strategies and recommendations for improving implementation of the Standards.

Frequent Questions about the Implementation Study of the R2 & e-Stewards® Electronics Recycling Certification Programs

Research Efforts in Electronics Stewardship

The following resources provide information about research related to sustainable electronics management:

National Strategy of Electronics Stewardship (NSES)

What is the NSES?

The National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (NSES) provides recommendations on steps the federal government, businesses, and all Americans can take toward achieving the goals identified in Executive Order 13693, “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.”

The NSES results from collaboration among 16 federal departments and agencies, collectively known as the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship, as well as consultation with stakeholders from the electronics, retail, and recycling industries; environmental organizations; state and local governments; and concerned citizens. It has the following goals:

  1. Build incentives for design of environmentally preferable electronics and enhance science, research, and technology development in the United States.
  2. Ensure that the federal government leads by example.
  3. Increase safe and effective management and handling of used electronics in the United States.
  4. Reduce harm from U.S. exports of electronics waste (e-waste) and improve handling of used electronics in developing countries.

Benefits of the NSES

Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship Members

EPA estimates that, in 2009, 438 million electronic products were sold in the United States, and 2.4 million tons were ready for end-of-life management. Both numbers are increasing substantially each year. By increasing its capacity to responsibly recycle our used electronics, the United States can create green jobs, lead to more productive reuse of valuable materials, and support a vibrant American recycling and refurbishing industry.

If properly executed, NSES can increase our domestic recycling efforts, reduce the volume of e-waste that is managed unsafely (both domestically and abroad), strengthen both domestic and international markets for viable and functional used electronic products, and prevent health and environmental threats at home and abroad. As discussed in the NSES and in the subsequent reports from 2014 and 2017, federal agencies are working together on various initiatives that will further progress towards these goals.

NSES Accomplishments and Ongoing Activities

Sustainable Management of Electronics and Batteries

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Last updated on August 15, 2025