Apr 3 - U.C. Adopts Green Electronic Purchasing Guidelines
The University of California becomes the first university system in the country to adopt guidelines for purchasing "greener" electronics. The policy requires that UC officials only buy products registered under the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, which evaluates and compares monitors, desktop computers, and laptops on an environmental performance scale that includes product longevity, reduction of toxic materials and recyclability.
The guidelines also stipulate that all UC e-waste must be responsibly recycled and will encourage manufacturers to take-back old products. The push for this new UC system policy comes from the Toxic Free UC campaign sponsored by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. Inside Bay Area reports.
"With this new policy, UC and UC students can use their purchasing power to move electronics companies to make greener products that are less toxic and more easily recyclable," [Maureen] Cane [of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition] said in a written statement.
Under the new policy, UC officials will only buy products registered under the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. EPEAT measures laptops, desktop computers and monitors according to a set of environmental standards such as reduction in harmful chemicals, ability to be recycled, and product longevity.
CAW is currently sponsoring legislation that would require manufacturers to phase out the use of hazardous materials in virtually all consumer electronics. AB 48 (Saldaña), will prohibit the sale of these electronic devices in CA and shadows the EU RoHS Directive,
What You Can Do
- Send a letter of support for AB 48.
- Read about CA's e-waste crisis.
- Find a place to safely recycle your electronic waste, or find out if your community is having a free e-waste event.