Frequent Questions about the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge
On September 22, 2012, EPA launched the SMM Electronics Challenge. The Challenge encourages electronics manufacturers, brand owners and retailers to strive to send 100 percent of the used electronics they collect from the public, businesses and within their own organizations to third-party certified electronics refurbishers and recyclers. The Challenge’s goals are to:
- Ensure responsible recycling through the use of third-party certified recyclers.
- Increase transparency and accountability through public posting of electronics collection and recycling data.
- Encourage outstanding performance through awards and recognition.
On this page:
- What are the goals of the SMM Electronics Challenge?
- Have there been any changes to the SMM Electronics Challenge from 2015 to 2016?
- What are the 2016 SMM Electronics Challenge results?
- What was the contribution of SMM Electronics Challenge participants to the national electronics recycling total in 2014?
- Why should we reuse and recycle used electronics?
- Does EPA post the data for each participant in the SMM Electronics Challenge? What information does EPA publicly post?
- Does EPA plan to involve new OEMs, brand owners and retailers in the Challenge?
What are the goals of the SMM Electronics Challenge?
The goals of the SMM Electronics Challenge are to:
- Ensure responsible recycling through the use of third-party certified recyclers;
- Increase the amount of used electronics collected by participants annually;
- Increase transparency and accountability through public posting of electronics collection and recycling data;
- Encourage outstanding performance through awards and recognition; and
- Highlight best practices that can be scaled up and transferred both within the electronics sector and across other sectors.
SMM Electronics Challenge participants may be recognized in two ways – through the Tier Awards, which recognize participants for their robust used electronics collection programs, are given at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels; and the Champion Awards, which recognize participants for unique contributions to electronics sustainability throughout the life cycle, are given in the Product, Non-Product, and Cutting Edge categories.
Have there been any changes to the SMM Electronics Challenge from 2015 to 2016?
Yes. Our first brand owner, VIZIO Inc., was welcomed to the Challenge. Additionally, a new category called Cutting Edge has been added to the Champion Awards alongside the Product and Non-Product categories. The Cutting Edge category focuses on bold ideas with the potential to make a significant impact on the future of sustainable electronics management across the life cycle.
What are the 2016 SMM Electronics Challenge results?
In 2015 SMM Electronics Challenge participants collected a total of 256,822.52 tons of electronics. Of this, 256,614.53 tons – 99.92% – were sent to third-party certified recyclers. This prevented the emission of more than 673,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is equivalent to taking over 129,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year, or generating enough electricity for more than 90,000 U.S. homes for one year, or diverting more than 194,000 tons of solid waste from landfills. Based on these results, Bronze Tier awards are being given to Sony and VIZIO, and Gold Tier awards are being given to Best Buy, Dell, LG, Samsung, Sprint, and Staples.
SMM Electronics Challenge Champion Awards are being given in the following categories:
- Product category: The Champion Award in the Product category is given for new products or changes to the way that existing products are used that contribute to electronics sustainability throughout the life cycle. This year’s Champion Award in the Product category goes to Dell for their pioneering use of post-industrial recycled carbon filled polycarbonate in laptops.
- Non-Product category: The Champion Award in the Non-Product category is given for strategies, plans, and policies implemented by a company that address electronics sustainability throughout the life cycle. This year’s Champion Award in the Non-Product category goes to Staples for their “Make More Happen” public outreach initiative.
- Cutting Edge category: The Champion Award in the Cutting Edge category focuses on bold ideas with the potential to make a huge impact on the future of sustainable electronics management across the life cycle. These bold ideas can include products, services, and policies. This year’s Champion Award in the Cutting Edge category goes to Samsung for their cadmium-free quantum dot ultra-HDTVs.
What was the contribution of SMM Electronics Challenge participants to the national electronics recycling total in 2014?
SMM Electronics Challenge participants contributed 17.2% of total U.S. electronics recycling by weight in 2014 (2014 Challenge total of 240,289.12 tons collected / national total of 1,400,000 tons).
Why should we reuse and recycle used electronics?
An important part of the Sustainable Materials Management approach is reducing our consumption of raw materials by maximizing product lifespans and recycling materials from one product to another. Electronic products are made from valuable resources and highly engineered materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. If not properly managed, some of the materials in our electronics may pose a risk to human health and the environment.
For example:
- One metric ton of circuit boardsExit can contain 40 to 800 times the amount of gold and 30 to 40 times the amount of copper mined from one metric ton of ore in the US.
- Recycling facilities can recover 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium for every one million cell phones.
Does EPA post the data for each participant in the SMM Electronics Challenge? What information does EPA publicly post?
EPA does not post individual participant’s baseline data or annual data on the EPA website. EPA will post aggregate data from all SMM Electronics Challenge participants on its website. However, EPA does require participants to publicly post almost all baseline and annual data elements (with the exception of the names of certified recyclers used, which may be kept private) on their respective websites. EPA may choose to link to Challenge participants’ websites, particularly for awards and recognition.
Does EPA plan to involve new OEMS, brand owners and retailers in the Challenge?
EPA is always open to additional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), brand owners and electronics retailers joining the Challenge. We applaud the efforts by our current participants and look forward to continuing to work with them. If other OEMs, brand owners and retailers are interested in joining the Challenge, they should contact Kelly McAllister (mcallister.kelly@epa.gov, 703-308-6811) or Brandon Bray (Bray.Brandon@epa.gov, 703-308-7253).