Projector Recycling
An Environmental Responsibility
I. ABSTRACT
With the advent of new and emerging electronic
waste (e-waste) mandates, the time has come
for hardware manufacturers and commercial
end users of electronic equipment — like
data and video projectors — to get serious
about keeping the environment safe
and clean.
FORTUNATELY, many projector
manufacturers are already going
down this path, diligently working to
develop next-generation products
made from safer, more environmentally
- friendly materials that comply with
these increasingly stringent require-
ments. As for the multitude of products
reaching end-of-life, projector suppliers
have begun to offer various recycling
and trade-in programs designed to help
ensure outdated hardware is properly and
cost-effectively removed, replaced and reused.
5
.
4
M
I
L
L
I
O
N
P
R
O
J
E
C
T
O
R
S
S
O
L
D
4
M I L L I O N
T O N S
O F
E
-
W A S T E
!
This paper explores some of the e-waste challenges
manufacturers and businesses face, overviews the
various projector recycling and trade-in
programs available today, and lists the
advantages of selecting a projector line
that offers a built-in program designed to
help save the environment, save costs
and keep all parties in compliance.
II. CHALLENGES
According to Pacific Media Associates,
a whopping 5.4 million projectors
were sold between 2003 and
2006. Since hardware products like
projectors are being replaced an
average of every two to four years, the
numbers infer that many of those 5.4
million projectors are reaching end-of-
life now….or will soon.
But what happens to old projector hardware?
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of
outdated hardware is actually recycled. The rest goes
into landfills. In fact, the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) estimates that more than four million tons of “e-
waste” hits landfills each year. E-waste is loosely defined as “electronic
products nearing ‘end-of-life’”. This is a serious point of concern because many components of such
equipment are considered toxic, particularly those containing lead, mercury and cadmium. If not disposed
of properly, these substances can cause harm to the environment and to people.
MANUFACTURER CHALLENGE - RoHS Directive:
To reduce the amount of toxins in landfills and
ensure proper disposal of electronics equipment, on July 1, 2006, the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS) directive was introduced in Europe. Today, manufacturers throughout
Europe, Canada, Japan, China, Australia and certain US states, including California, Maine
and New York are responsible for self-declaring that products comply with RoHS
directives. Non-compliance may result in the banning of products, or a penalty such
as a fine and/or imprisonment, not to mention the potential loss of sales and even
damage to a brand or corporate image.
While the RoHS directive is forcing manufacturers to develop next-generation
products using safer materials for the future,
it doesn’t take care of the millions
of tons of e-waste being placed in landfills now.
COMPANY CHALLENGE – Proper Disposal:
Although Europe and many countries in
Asia have national laws that govern e-waste, currently the US does not. According to IDC’s
2005 Commercial PC Survey, 51 percent of respondents in US organizations say they don’t
have a recycling program in place. But congress is addressing several new bills that may
create tax incentives or credits to encourage companies to recycle through manufacturer-
developed programs. Many states and municipalities have already authorized e-waste laws,
some of which enforce steep fines and other penalties on companies that ignore recycling and
disposal requirements.
By: NEC Corporation of America,
Visual Systems Division
