Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on January 16, 2025
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on March 28, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports:
- Policies promoting effective, efficient collection and environmentally responsible recycling of electronics waste (e-waste) to minimize the waste stream to landfills.
- Legislation and programs aligned with product stewardship principles, targeting electronic waste for safe economic recycling and reuse.
- Investments in research and industry collaboration to develop products designed for durability rather than planned obsolescence.
- Legislative action to establish a comprehensive responsibility model for e-waste management which promotes product stewardship; encourages manufacturers to eliminate or minimize hazardous materials, design products and enable easier upgrades
- Conservation of resources and minimization of pollution by fostering a circular economy for electronic products.
Issue
E-waste is a rapidly growing component of our daily solid waste stream due to an increasing demand for electronics and trends toward planned obsolescence. In The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 report published by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme & International Telecommunication Union (ITU) it is estimated that less than one quarter (22.3%) of the year’s e-waste mass was documented as having been properly collected and recycled in 2022, leaving the U.S. $52 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide. The overall quantity of e-waste is expected to increase greatly in the coming years due to electrification of infrastructure, offering opportunities for economic recycling and reuse of the valuable electronic and other components in this waste stream.
E-waste contains toxic materials such as (lead, mercury, cadmium, and other hazardous materials) that are safe when used as directed but pose significant risk when disposed of improperly. This has resulted in individual states passing legislation that requires effective and efficient collection and proper recycling of e-waste. Differing mandates relative to electronics recycling are problematic and expensive hindering efforts to recycle and/or properly dispose of the growing volume of e-waste.
Rationale
Currently, there is no comprehensive U.S. program to address e-waste in our solid waste stream. Successful international initiatives provide a model:
- European Union: The Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive regulates recycling and restricts the use of hazardous substances in electronic manufacturing.
- Asia (e.g., Taiwan and Japan): “Take back” laws require manufacturers to take responsibility of e-waste at the end of its useful life.
Civil Engineers are responsible for designing and maintaining disposal facilities and systems, and have a responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, mitigate adverse environmental effects, and minimize resource depletion. Effective e- waste recycling programs and technologies that reduce e-wastes support those goals.
The policy has worldwide applications
ASCE Policy Statement 527
First Approved in 2008