Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition's Solar Panel ... - Solar Scorecard

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition’s

Solar Panel Recycling Workshop

Debbie Basher - Board Member

California Product Stewardship Council

May 19, 2010

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Mission: To shift California’s product waste

management system from one focused on

government funded & ratepayer financed waste

diversion

to one that relies on producer responsibility in

order to reduce public costs and drive

improvements in product design that promote

environmental sustainability.

Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director

P. O. Box 216381

Sacramento, CA

www.Calpsc.org

916-480-9010

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How Waste Has Changed

How Role of Govt Changed

1900 – New York

City Landfill (ash)

1960 - USA 2000 - USA

Mineral

Food/Yard

Products

EPA data from a report by the Product Policy Institute (PPI), Unintended Consequences:

Municipal Solid Waste and the Throwaway Society. Permission for use of illustration granted by PPI.

© 2009 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)

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Issue: Disposable Toxic Products

• Manufacturers are

worldwide

• Design products with

hazardous components

• Planned obsolescence

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New Hazardous Waste

• New Solar products flooding the

market

• Seen as new wave of “clean”

technology

• Manufacturing processes & end-oflife

management can be hazardous

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Strict Environmental Compliance

Requirements

• Waste water Agencies

• Storm water Agencies

– National Discharge Permit

Required

• Universal Waste programs

• All promote HHW program as

default disposal solution

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Problem: Default System is Santa

Clara County Household

Hazardous Waste Program

• Taxpayer funded through a Solid

Waste Tipping Fee

• Collects only ~5% of 622,000 in

Santa Clara County

• Where is the other 95% HHW going

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Why Local Government

Should Not Pay to Manage Solar

Reason #1:

Local governments are drowning in red ink –

they can’t afford to

• Costs continue to increase

($300,000 2008-2009)

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Why Local Government

Should Not Pay

Reason # 2

The Default System is flawed -cannot

continuously take on exponential

hazardous stream

There are countless other products, when will it end

Municipal product waste management creates:

• Welfare for waste

• Subsidy for toxic & throwaway products

• Rewards design for disposal

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Extractors, Miners,

Harvesters

Today’s Linear

Waste Management System

Retailers

Manufacturers

Consumers

Recycle & Garbage

Bins

Local Government

Funded

© 2009 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)

Recycling & Landfill

Processes

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Tomorrow’s

Cradle to Cradle System

Retailers

Consumers

Manufacturers

Materials are recycled Manufacturer Take Back

into new products

Programs,

mail-back, collection sites,

haulers, local governments

© 2009 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)

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What is Product Stewardship

• All producers responsible for designing,

financing & managing product lifecycle

• Costs shift from taxpayers to producers &

consumers

• Government sets performance standards,

enforcing level playing field

• Legislation addresses environmental product

design, source reduction, toxics reduction

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Product Stewardship Provides

Solutions

• Removes program & financing burden from

local government

• Reduces local taxes

• Provides the economic feedback loop that

influences design, leading to cleaner, safer

products

• Creates a fair, holistic, sustainable system

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Engage in Dialogue

“If you are not at the table,

you are probably

on the menu.”

• Product manufacturing is global,

product pollution problems are local

• Product Stewardship initiatives are taking hold

nationwide

• Cooperation w/ manufacturers and government

is key

• Creates a level playing field where all producers

pay to play

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Solar Product Stewardship

• Solar industry should create a

stewardship system NOW

• Product return can use existing

relationships, distributors

• Can reduce or eliminate toxic

components and processes

• Design for easy dismantling, recycling &

re-use

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Solar Industry Rewards

• By taking a holistic approach for managing

solar panels:

• Can get the Green advertising advantage by

being a steward of environment

• Can truly promote green jobs

• Preserve positive public image as clean

technology

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What Can You Do

• Support Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

• Support California Product Stewardship

Council

• Recognized organizations in Sacramento

• Speak with organized & unified voice

• Help educate your organization & elected

leaders

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What Else Can You Do

• Write letters support for stewardship

legislation – One of most powerful tools for

garnering change Sacramento

• Patronize companies that have a high

Solar Score

• Ask questions regarding end-of-life before

purchasing

• Ask companies to take back your solar

panels

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Thank you for your time