The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2005 that is dedicated to the development and enhancement of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used electronics in the U.S. through 1) the coordination of initiatives targeting the recycling of used electronics in the United States, 2) participation in pilot projects to advance and encourage electronics recycling, and 3) the development of programs that reduce the burden of government through private management of electronics recycling systems. At the local level, the NCER has spearheaded an electronics recycling initiative in the state of West Virginia, which has increased awareness in the state, prevented hundreds of thousands of pounds of electronics from entering state landfills, and helped spur the local recycling industry.While the NCER does not take positions on legislative proposals for electronics recycling systems, the NCER is ready to assist in the implementation of recycling programs across the country and believes that national and regional approaches offer the best way forward. When feasible, the following principles should be incorporated in any consideration of systems for managing used electronics:

• Any system should allow flexibility and encourage competition for the collection, transportation, and recycling of used electronics.
• To the greatest extent possible, local, state, and regional stakeholders should strive to develop systems that are integrated and function together in order to create efficiencies.
• All state or regional-based systems should avoid legal or regulatory requirements that would prevent the establishment of a national system in the future.
• In any system, opportunities for the private administration of the recycling system that may create more efficient systems should be explored.
• Any system should seek national and regional consistency for compliance and data collection.

The National Center for Electronics Recycling was launched 10 years ago when hopes for national e-scrap infrastructure were running high. In this article, which was featured in Resource Recycling, NCER’s Executive Director offers a look at how state programs, CRT challenges and other industry issues have evolved in sometimes unexpected ways.In 2006 and 2007, NCER coordinated a series of collection events in West Virginia that diverted hundreds of thousands of pounds from landfills prior to the passage of the WV electronics recycling law and landfill ban on certain electronic devices. NCER has never and still does not directly collect or recycle electronics, but assists others whose desire is to do this.NCER continues to advise some West Virginia Solid Waste Authorities and businesses in how to properly set up and execute their own electronics collection events, including giving them guidance on the importance of hiring a responsible recycler to handle the electronics. If you are interested in having us manage your next event, see our list of services here. Or contact Heather Smith for more information and a list of our rates.