These days we are being buried under mountains of the waste of an industry that did not exist one hundred (100) years ago. Tons of waste created as a by product of the technological age we live in today. Electronic equipment are thrown away each year due to "Planned Obsolescence"; Products engineered to be replaced within three (3) years by a newer version of the same product. The term Planned Obsolescence was first used in the automobile industry. In the Electronics industry the rate of technological upgrading happens on the scale of Months. It is known fact that every six (6) months Processing speed , and byte recovery rate more than doubles.The discarding of obsolete electronics, not broken ,or non-functioning equipment, just to feed into our desire to have the newest, or the latest version of a certain model.

What ever happened to that Walkman, or that Four Channel amplifier, Or that eight (8) track Tape Player you just had to have to keep up with New Technology?

Illinois' new Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act took effect on January 1, 2010, and was the second bill to be enacted in a Midwestern state. At the time of its passage in late 2008, it was the first state e-waste bill in the nation to include printers in the list of covered electronic devices. Like other producer responsibility bills, Illinois' Act requires electronics manufacturers to pay for the cost of recycling or refurbishing tens of millions of pounds of discarded computers, monitors, printers, and televisions. But the bill includes a number of other features designed to accomplish specific objectives in Illinois. Examples are extra credit for electronics that are refurbished instead of recycled, extra credit for e-waste collected in rural counties, and specific recycling goals for manufacturers, with accompanying penalties and a landfill ban to back them up. The Act is the nation's only e-waste law to include separate formulas for television manufacturers and information technology manufacturers.

For laws governing recycling in state of Illinois See links below: Illinois Environmental Regulations (at the Illinois Pollution Control Board)

Recyclers and Refurbishes.  Under the E-Waste Act,

A Recyclers is a person who uses a process, method, or technique to collect, separate, or process the electrical equipment and return raw materials or products into the economic mainstream.

A Refurbisher is a party who processes the electrical equipment for reuse. 

Phone or cell phone carriers and manufacturers with existing recycling programs are excluded from this group.  The recyclers and Refurbisher must register with the Agency prior to January 1, 2010, and prior to January 1 of every year thereafter.  The registrant must provide basic information about each location that manages and accepts the electrical equipment.  The registration fee for 2010 is $2,000 and it increases annually based on inflation.  The E-Waste Act subjects these entities to a whole host of record keeping and environmental and safety standards, including an annual audit of these standards by a qualified professional.  Additionally, companies that choose to recycle or refurbish the electronic equipment covered by the E-Waste Act must procure commercial general liability and pollution legal liability insurance with minimum limits as set forth in the statute. 

The Dangers created by E - Waste

E-waste is shipped form the United States to several countries around the World. Countries like 

• India http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JZey9GJQP0, 
• Ghana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr1zQrXM_7s, 
• China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHTWRYXy2gE
• Eastern Europe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8kl7xmRsIk

These are just a small sampling of the tons of E -Waste being dumped on Third World Countries by First World countries, That manufacture Electronics,like the United States, The EU countries,

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/technology/24junk.html?scp=1&sq=Poor%20Nations%20Are%20Littered%20With%20Old%20PC's,%20Report%20Says&st=cse

As we go further into the murky waters of the E -Waste scandal we will try to not only expose our readers to what is going wrong with this well intentioned program, but ways to work towards reduce the problems created by E - Waste.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is the Governmental agency set up to create and administer the guidelines set down by Congress with reguard's to the control of Waste and the manufacturing process that reintroduces Carbon into the atmosphere.

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Collectors, Recyclers, Refurbishes, and Municipalities effected by the new Recycling Laws of 2008 for the State of Illinois.

What the New Law Means to Collectors, Recyclers, and Refurbishers

Processor and Collector Registration Form  

http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/recycler-list.html

List of Registered Collectors, Recyclers, and Refurbishers

Registered Residential E-Waste Collection Sites In Illinois

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus E-Waste Recycling FAQ