Introduction
The problem of solid and harmful wastes utilization occupies an important place in the policy of many states and particularly those that actively produce technical goods. In the US, this issue is also acute, and disputes periodically arise about the need to take urgent measures and to protect the environment from the harmful effects of debris. In this regard, in the late summer of 2017, the Governor of Illinois signed the law regulating the procedure for the recycling of electronics (“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act”). This act was one of the steps on the way to combating pollution caused by the harmful parts of electronic products falling into the soil, and many valuable innovations were introduced. The law of 2017 defined the procedure for the work of companies engaged in the production of electronic equipment and established legislation that calls for the disposal of hazardous waste.
Requirements of the Law
One of the key elements of the Act is that producers should create e-waste programs and provide financial support to those counties that have decided to become members of the new policy. The requirements of the law primarily affected the course of work performed to eliminate electronic waste products in order to avoid their large accumulations. According to the provisions of the act, it establishes “a convenience standard for electronics recycling which will ensure a minimum number of collection locations in each participating Illinois county” (“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act”). Also, the way of functioning of industrial enterprises was largely affected. Manufacturers were more responsible for their products and, in particular, the rules for disposing of those waste products that could potentially harm the environment. All these factors are key when implementing the conditions of the law, which proves the authorities’ desire to find a compromise and to ensure that harmful electronic products do not have a detrimental impact on nature.
Registration Requirements
Despite the fact that officially the law will start to operate in 2019, registration requirements have already been presented. It is argued that “by July 1, 2018, the 2019 Manufacturer Program Plans are to be submitted to IL EPA” (“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act”). All counties are proposed to submit relevant applications and participate in the program in order for the law to begin to act and to be of use. In case a particular region expresses the desire to participate, it receives the right to a certain territory for the collection of wastes. What is important is that financial support is provided by the state, and the amount of funds is determined by the size of a particular locality. Similar programs were adopted in Illinois earlier, and they were also aimed at eliminating the consequences of pollution by electronic waste products, which led to a number of changes in the local legislation (“State Legislation: States Are Passing E-Waste Legislation”). At that time, the initiative was supported, and the new project is designed to provide all manufacturers with access to the program provisions for the purpose of their implementation.
Requirements to Preserve the Provisions of the Previous Law
Due to the fact that the new act will start working in the near future, the conditions of the previous law should be respected. As it is noted, “the collection obligations of the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act (EPPRA) remain in effect,” and the provisions of the two documents will operate concurrently (“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act”). It will allow controlling the activities of industrialists and help not to stop working on the recycling of electronic waste products.
Requirements for Location Sites
Certain requirements to collection sites are made in accordance with the terms of the law. Nevertheless, they can be changed and revised, which is the right initiative from the point of view of logistics (“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act”). The constant emergence of new enterprises necessitates the control over the disposal of harmful substances, and collection sites will be one of the most discussed topics since such places should be completely ready for waste products conservation. The transportation and collection of all waste should be carried out according to the schemes developed by producers. These programs are approved at the state government level, and after paying a fee, manufacturers are given an opportunity to use those disposal points that are given to them.
Potential Economic Impacts
The law under consideration will undoubtedly affect not only the ecological situation of the state but also the economy. The effect of the act’s provisions can be significant, with both positive and negative outcomes possible. In case of incorrect implementation, the law may become an insurmountable obstacle for those manufacturers who want to produce their electronic goods. Nevertheless, if all the requirements are observed, benefits will certainly be evident.
Attempt to Address a Market Failure
The current situation in the market is not successful, which is explained by the inadequate performance of previous acts. According to Ruppenthal, the incomes of producers have decreased recently, which gave them little reason to advance the conditions of the recycling program. Perhaps, the introduction of the new law will allow for more successful distribution of funds, and manufacturers will be able to increase sales while following the provisions of the new act. If this happens, the situation in the market will change for the better.
Potential to Change Supply and Demand
When considering the act of 2017 in terms of the potential for changing supply and demand, it can be noted that the volume of products delivered to the market may decrease. It may happen because of the need for registration payment and, as a consequence, additional costs of producers. In addition, as Esenduran et al. note, the policy of recycling covers several non-financial spheres, for example, attracting public interest in the issue, advocacy, and other topics (927). Accordingly, consumers may be interested in the new mode of enterprises’ operation, which will lead to increased demand.
Impact on the Design of Products
The state government of Illinois is interested in the new law becoming operational. As soon as all conventions are met, a number of advertising campaigns are likely to be held, as well as other means of drawing public attention to the act. According to the authorities themselves, the government is not interested in reducing the amount of produced electronic equipment (“Illinois E-Waste Overhaul”). Since manufacturers themselves are responsible for processing their waste, they can make efforts to facilitate this process. The task of achieving higher productivity along with lower costs is understandable and logical. Therefore, industrial enterprises should independently seek ways to facilitate the utilizing process and find methods to prevent the loss of demand. In order to succeed in it, new labels may appear on the products, indicating that this or that manufacturer supports the terms of the recycling program. This step can be an effective move in order to earn the confidence of consumers.
Parties Bearing the Costs of Recycling
The process of electronic equipment recycling by industrial enterprises is a key task that the authorities adhere to and try to implement. However, the issue that worries many people is who will be responsible for paying for this work. A specific explanation was given, and the state leadership stated that “manufacturers will have to pay for the recycling of any electronics collected at the sites” (“Illinois E-Waste Overhaul”). It will not please manufacturers, but these norms are prescribed in the law, which should be observed. It is also possible that general taxpayers will take part in funding the program, which is a common practice.
Market Issues Affecting the Program’s Success
In case the demand for producers’ goods grows due to the influence of actively spreading advertising, it will positively affect the income of the state and the success of the program as a whole. The population should be aware of the activities done to eliminate industrial pollution. According to Liu et al., the awareness of the dangers of improper waste processing can cause dissatisfaction among the public (2166). Therefore, another important factor is the agreement of potential consumers. If approval is obtained, the act will certainly be fully implemented.
Pros and Cons of the Program
The law under consideration can have a positive effect on the environmental situation in the state. If all provisions are successfully implemented, it will help to exclude potential pollution of the environment by harmful products, which will be useful from the point of view of environmental protection. Also, public attention to a specific issue can be attracted, and people can be encouraged to participate in the discussion of the act and its benefits.
The new policy will unequivocally encourage manufacturers to look for easier ways of processing hazardous wastes. Accordingly, it can lead to the fact that producers will use more environmentally friendly and durable raw materials so as not to pay for too frequent disposal. Contacts with the private sector and other areas can be established to create more favorable recycling conditions and to find the optimal mechanisms for waste disposal.
However, some shortcomings can also occur. The elasticity of supply and demand can be significantly impaired if producers do not adjust to the new rhythm of work and cannot effectively utilize harmful wastes. It, in turn, will affect the situation in the market, and many industrial enterprises will not be able to provide competition because of the lack of support from the authorities. In case demand falls sharply, electronic equipment manufacturers will not have enough resources to implement the provisions of the program. This vicious circle can become the reason for the discontent of both producers and consumers. Therefore, measures should be taken timely to prevent the collapse of the market and not to disrupt the balance of supply and demand, and the elasticity of these two indicators can either strengthen or, on the contrary, break the program. If this policy is implemented in the US, it can create undesirable benefits to foreign companies involved in a specific industrial sphere and thereby damage the budget. In order to prevent the vulnerability of the US market, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons so that the introduction of the program could not affect the economy of the country negatively.
Also, problems with the collection can occur because sites should be safe in order to avoid environmental pollution. It can be recommended to conduct a more detailed analysis of the places where waste products are planned to be stored in order to eliminate the potential threat. In addition, the system of payment can be reviewed, and manufacturers can receive benefits on payments. The need to look for ways to recycle waste will complicate the activities of industrial enterprises, and an opportunity to have incentives from the authorities can be a successful measure for establishing contact among the participants of the market. Perhaps, these changes will make it possible to achieve a more positive attitude towards the new law.
Conclusion
The law of 2017 defines the activities of companies that manufacture electronic equipment and determines the procedure for recycling hazardous waste products obtained in the course of work. A number of requirements are provided by the new act. Registration and the need to develop individual recycling programs are the activities that all participants in the new legislative project should perform. New contacts of manufacturers and the private sector can be established. Also, economic factors are an essential criterion for assessing the law. Accounting for the supply and demand elasticity is an important component of successful work in the chosen direction. The act has both advantages and disadvantages, and some recommendations can help to change the provisions of the new document for the better.
Works Cited
“Consumer Electronics Recycling Act.” Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, n.d., Web.
Esenduran, Gökçe, et al. “Impact of Take-Back Regulation on the Remanufacturing Industry.” Production and Operations Management, vol. 26, no. 5, 2017, pp. 924-944.
“Illinois E-Waste Overhaul.” Illinois Environmental Council, Web.
Liu, Shengsi, et al. “Efficient Carbon-Supported Heterogeneous Molybdenum-Dioxo Catalyst for Chemoselective Reductive Carbonyl Coupling.” Catalysis Science & Technology, vol. 7, no. 11, 2017, pp. 2165-2169.
Ruppenthal, Alex. “Bill Aims to Overhaul Illinois’ Electronic Recycling Program.”Chicago Tonight, 2017, Web.
“State Legislation: States Are Passing E-Waste Legislation.”Electronics TakeBack Coalition, n.d., Web.