{"49872":{"#nid":"49872","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Valerie Thomas Testifies Before Congress on Managing E-Waste","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EAnderson Interface Associate Professor of Natural Systems at Georgia Tech\u0027s Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Professor in the School of Public Policy\u003C\/em\u003E, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives\u0027 Committee on Science and Technology on February 11, 2009. \u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn an effort to craft legislation to reduce the environmental impact of electronics, and to support the incorporation of environmental considerations in engineering curricula, the Science and Technology Committee sought testimony from five witnesses regarding the draft legislation entitled \u0022The Electronic Waste Research and Development Act of 2009.*  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Thomas, \u0022Today, recycling programs for electronics and other consumer products have low recycling rates both because collection programs are difficult for consumers to use and because the products are difficult to recycle. To achieve high recycling rates, products need to be designed for recycling, and collection programs need to be designed to be very easy, almost automatic, regardless of the complexity of the product. Currently, consumers are mainly responsible for managing the recycling or disposal of their products. In some locations there have been efforts to make producers responsible for managing the recycling or disposal of their products. A third approach might work better: improve both product design and collection systems so that products can increasing manage their own entry into the collection and recycling system. Rather than having to continue to work so hard to educate consumers about how to recycle each and every one of their purchases, consumer products could, almost, manage themselves (Saar and Thomas 2002; Thomas 2003).*\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThomas and the other witnesses discussed innovative ways to deal with electronic waste and how research and development can help address the challenge of managing the disposal of electronic products in the United States.  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFive witnesses, representing perspectives from academia, a non-profit electronics producer, and electronics recyclers, offered testimony.  They included:\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDr. Valerie Thomas\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EAnderson Interface Associate Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and School of Public Policy\u003C\/em\u003E. Dr. Thomas discussed her research on innovative methods to manage electronic waste and the challenges facing the recycling and re-use of electronic products.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead Dr. Thomas\u0027 testimony: \u003Ca href=\u0027http:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/thomastestimony\u0027\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/thomastestimony\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVideo of hearing (click on webcast):\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\u0027http:\/\/science.house.gov\/publications\/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2348\u0027\u003Ehttp:\/\/science.house.gov\/publications\/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2348\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDr. Paul Anastas\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003ETeresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment and Director, Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies\u003C\/em\u003E.  Dr. Anastas discussed the applicability of research in green chemistry and engineering to the electronics sector.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMr. Philip J. Bond\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EPresident, Information Technology Association of America.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMr. Bond discussed ways in which innovation through R\u0026amp;D could help electronics manufacturers address the challenge of electronic waste. He will also give his views on promoting collaboration between industry and non-industry researchers to encourage the transfer of successful research into products.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMr. Jeff Omelchuck\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EExecutive Director, Green Electronics Council, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). \u003C\/em\u003E Mr. Omelchuck discussed the development and utility of EPEAT, challenges to making existing electronic products more environmentally friendly, and ways in which R\u0026amp;D could address these challenges.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMr. Willie Cade\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EFounder and Chief Executive Officer, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, Home of the Computers for Schools Program.\u003C\/em\u003E Mr. Cade discussed the challenges faced by electronic refurbishes and recyclers, as well as ways to promote collaboration between academic researchers and the recycling and refurbishing business.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"Professor Valerie Thomas testified before the U.S. House of Representatives\u0027 Committee on Science and Technology on February 11, 2009.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Expertise sought on \u0022Electronic Waste Research and Development A"}],"uid":"27279","created_gmt":"2009-02-11 01:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:03:59","author":"Barbara Christopher","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2009-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2009-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"49873":{"id":"49873","type":"image","title":"Valerie Thomas","body":null,"created":"1449175366","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:42:46","changed":"1475894451","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:40:51","alt":"Valerie Thomas","file":{"fid":"126988","name":"tpd91861.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tpd91861_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tpd91861_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":32508,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tpd91861_0.jpg?itok=OQEwZvh3"}},"49874":{"id":"49874","type":"image","title":"Thomas and the other witnesses discussed innovativ","body":null,"created":"1449175366","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:42:46","changed":"1475894451","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:40:51","alt":"Thomas and the other witnesses discussed innovativ","file":{"fid":"126987","name":"tpz91780.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tpz91780_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tpz91780_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":34775,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tpz91780_0.jpg?itok=bOi_mB16"}}},"media_ids":["49873","49874"],"groups":[{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"155","name":"Congressional Testimony"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1352","name":"ewaste"},{"id":"1191","name":"industrial engineering"},{"id":"426","name":"isye"},{"id":"1153","name":"recycling"},{"id":"167212","name":"stewart school of isye"},{"id":"1135","name":"valerie thomas"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003EBarbara Christopher\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIndustrial and Systems Engineering\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=bt3\u0022\u003EContact Barbara Christopher\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404.385.3102\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["bchristopher@isye.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}