California E-Waste Updates: Electronic Product Management
February 8, 2008

Dear Electronic Waste Stakeholder:

This electronic newsletter is an update on the implementation of California's Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 and other electronic waste (e-waste) management developments in California.

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In this issue:

• CIWMB To Hold Stakeholder Forum February 21, 2008
• Reminder: Net Cost Reports Due to CIWMB March 1st
• Heads-Up: CIWMB to Conduct Validation of Net Cost Reports
• Request for Cooperation: Business Practice Survey

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#### CIWMB to Hold Stakeholder Forum February 21st ####

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has scheduled a full day forum for stakeholders in the covered electronic waste (CEW) recovery and recycling payment system. This system was established through the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (the Act, or SB 20). The meeting will be held Thursday, February 21, 2008, at the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building in Sacramento.

The format of the event will be a focused and moderated conversation on the topic of possible adjustments to the current recovery and recycling payments rates, and/or the electronic waste recycling fee assessed on the sale of covered devices.

This forum will allow stakeholders to express their views regarding the appropriateness and impacts of any financial adjustments to the program. It will also allow stakeholders to voice ideas on how any such adjustments may be structured. The meeting will likely be broken into a morning session focusing on the CEW recovery and recycling payment rates, and an afternoon session focusing on the electronic waste recycling fee levels.

More information, including a draft agenda, will be forthcoming.

#### Reminder: Net Cost Reports Due To CIWMB March 1st ####

If your organization participated in the Covered Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Payment System in the past year, the following reminder is directed at you:

CIWMB Annual Net Cost Reports Due March 1, 2008: Regulations implementing portions of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act require approved collectors and recyclers to maintain records documenting operational costs, and annually to submit a report to the CIWMB on the net costs of collecting and recycling covered electronic wastes (CEWs). The next report is due on or before March 1, 2008.

In order to properly set the recovery and recycling payments rates, the CIWMB must evaluate the costs incurred by approved participants during collection and recycling activities. An important tool in this evaluation is the Net Cost Report currently required of all participants.

Failure to submit the Net Cost Report on time is considered a prohibited activity and is grounds for revocation of approval. All participants are strongly urged to ensure their compliance with reporting deadlines.

The report forms and a guide, which have not changed from last year, are posted on the CIWMB's website: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics/Act2003/Recovery/NetCost/

For more information contact Matt McCarron.

#### Heads-Up: CIWMB to Conduct Validation of Net Cost Reports ####

Given the importance of the CEW recovery and recycling cost information contained in the Net Cost Reports referenced above, the CIWMB will be selecting a sample of submitted reports and conducting a validation exercise to establish enhanced confidence in the cumulative cost data.

Pursuant to the regulations governing the CEW recycling payment system, the CIWMB maintains audit authority to determine compliance with all aspects of the payment system. (Please refer to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 18660.9, for details on what the CIWMB may examine as part of any audit.) The CIWMB or its authorized agent will contact selected participants and provide guidance on what supporting documentation to have available for this exercise. Any and all participants contacted are urged to fully cooperate with this validation project.

Regulations are available through the CIWMB's website at: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Regulations/Title14/Chap08pt2/default.htm.

Please note that the CIWMB's administrative authority does not require advance notice of an audit. Program participants are always encouraged to maintain required records in a state of readiness for review by authorities.

#### Request for Cooperation: Business Practice Survey ####

To complement the quantitative data that the CIWMB will receive through the above referenced Net Cost Reports, the CEW program staff will be conducting a qualitative survey of business practices with the CEW recovery and recycling system. Collectors and recycler may be receiving a phone call within the next few weeks and be asked to provide responses to a brief set of questions relating to materials handled, business relationships, and other services provided.

Participation in this survey is voluntary, though all CEW system participants are encouraged to work with the CIWMB on efforts to improve the system.

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Please note that e-mail correspondence with the State of California related to e-waste management in general, and implementation of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act in particular, should be directed to ewaste@calepa.ca.gov.

Also note that an archive of past distributions of this newsletter is available at: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics/Act2003/Stakeholder/Updates/.

Thank you for your interest in shaping California`s e-waste management future.

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