What We Do

Due to rapid advances in technology and explosive sales in consumer electronics, e-waste has become the fastest-growing segment of the municipal waste stream, posing a significant human and environmental threat because it contains many toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that contaminate our air and waterways. Only about 12% of the 2.6 million tons of e-waste generated in the U.S. per year is collected for recycling, the rest going to landfills and incinerators. Furthermore, a considerable amount of the e-waste collected for recycling is handled by firms that have inadequate recycling standards or is sent to developing countries, fueling the global e-waste crisis.

CEH's Pollution Prevention Program works to leverage the buying power of large institutions in order to expand the market for "greener" electronic products that encourages the development of a sustainable, socially responsible production system in the electronics sector.

Currently the Pollution Prevention Program is focused on the health care sector, partnering with the Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) campaign, to encourage Bay Area hospitals and national health care organizations to adopt more environmentally preferable purchasing, management and disposal practices for their electronic equipment.

We also provide purchasing assistance to institutions from other sectors such as government and private industry, partnering with other coalitions such as the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC). CEH integrates the resources and expertise of ETBC in electronics with the experience and knowledge of HCWH in procurement in order to influence the purchasing decisions of large institutions in healthcare, government and academia towards more environmentally responsible electronics.

Contact Sue Chiang, Pollution Prevention Program Director, 510.655.3900 x311, sue[at]cehca.org or Judy Levin, Pollution Prevention Program Coordinator, 510.655.3900 x316, judy[at]cehca.org with any questions.

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What happens to the mountains of computers, televisions, and other electronic waste that Americans discard every year? This short clip from 60 Minutes follows the illegal export of our toxic trash halfway around the world. You will never look at your electronics in the same way again.