[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61804-61805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23499]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration


Request for Comments on Electronics Recycling

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments.

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[[Page 61805]]

SUMMARY: The Technology Administration (TA) publishes this notice to 
solicit comments on the following specific issues regarding electronics 
recycling: (1) Definition of covered products; (2) collection and the 
role of government in collection; (3) financing collection, 
transportation and recycling, financing for orphan products, financing 
historical products versus future products, and the role of government, 
the electronics industry, and intermediaries in financing; and (4) the 
role of the federal government in creating a national recycling plan. 
This solicitation is intended to give those who were unable to comment 
at the September 21, 2004, roundtable on electronics recycling, 
entitled Technology Recycling: Achieving Consensus for Stakeholders, an 
opportunity to submit a statement regarding these issues.

DATES: Comments and statements should be received by the Technology 
Administration no later than October 27, 2004, in order to receive 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: Electronic statements are preferred, but written comments 
will be accepted. Please submit your comments electronically to 
[email protected] either in Microsoft Word (specify version) 
or WordPerfect (version 5 or 6, specify version).
    Paper submissions should include an electronic copy of the comments 
on a diskette in one of the formats specified above. Mail to Laureen 
Daly, Office of Technology Policy, Technology Administration HCHB 4817, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions to 
[email protected] or call Laureen Daly at (202) 482-0336.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Technology Administration, Office of Technology Policy held a 
roundtable on September 21, 2004, entitled Technology Recycling: 
Achieving Consensus for Stakeholders, that included representatives of 
electronics manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and environmental 
organizations. At the roundtable, participants discussed that: (1) A 
list of products for recycling should be limited to a small number of 
items to start with, such as cathode ray tubes and flat panel monitors 
over a certain size, and have a timetable for expansion of the list; 
(2) a collection process may include but should not mandate 
participation from retailers, local governments, manufacturers and 
third parties; (3) there exists several different financing models 
including extended producer responsibility and an advanced recovery 
fee, as well as financing the recycling of orphan products and 
transportation from collection to recyclers; and (4) there exists a 
need for a national approach as opposed to a state-by-state approach. 
The purpose of the roundtable was to obtain information for a report on 
electronics recycling that will be released in 2005.

Request for Comments

    The Office of Technology Policy of TA is soliciting comments on the 
following specific issues regarding electronics recycling: (1) 
Definition of covered products; (2) collection and the role of 
government in collection; (3) financing collection, transportation and 
recycling, financing for orphan products, financing historical products 
versus future products, and the role of government, the electronics 
industry, and intermediaries in financing; and (4) the role of the 
federal government in creating a national recycling plan. This 
solicitation is intended to give those who were unable to comment at 
the roundtable an opportunity to submit a statement regarding these 
issues. Statements may propose a specific scenario or model for 
electronics recycling; give examples of existing programs in similar or 
unrelated areas that could serve as a model for an electronics 
recycling program; or comment on the pros and cons of existing or 
proposed models. TA is interested in specific scenarios that would 
enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industry and encourage conservation 
of resources.
    We request, but do not require, that commentors provide their name, 
affiliation, and contact information and whether the comments represent 
the views of an individual or an organization. The Department reserves 
the right to use comments received, either partially or wholly, in 
subsequent reports or publications. Any comments become the property of 
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
    For further information on the roundtable and the report, check the 
http://www.technology.gov website under Events and Activities, 
September 21, 2004, Technology Recycling Roundtable.

    Dated: October 13, 2004.
Phillip J. Bond,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-23499 Filed 10-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-18-P