SMT, PCB Electronics Industry News
  • SMTnet
  • »
  • Industry News
  • »
  • EPA TOXIC SUBSTANCES RULES DISCOURAGE RECYCLING, INDUSTRY EXPERT SAYS

EPA TOXIC SUBSTANCES RULES DISCOURAGE RECYCLING, INDUSTRY EXPERT SAYS

Feb 04, 2014

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) reporting requirements for manufacturing byproducts sent for recycling are “burdensome, unnecessary, and actually discourage recycling,” an industry expert told Congress today.

Speaking on behalf of more than 2,000 U.S. electronics manufacturers who are members of IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries®, Dr. Brent Grazman said IPC members are strong advocates of scientifically based regulations that improve environmental conditions, protect human health and stimulate the economy. On those grounds, he said, the industry has concerns about the way EPA has implemented Section 8 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  

 Grazman is Vice President, Quality, of St. Louis-based Viasystems, and he spoke before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, which is considering an overhaul of TSCA.  
It is critical that Congress reform TSCA in a way that directs the EPA to prioritize its regulation of chemicals,” Grazman said. “Substances that exhibit the greatest hazards, and those that pose the greatest exposure to consumers, should be given priority for review, testing and, as necessary, regulation.”

But the EPA’s treatment of manufacturing byproducts does not reflect sound priorities, he said. Under the EPA’s interpretation of TSCA, byproducts are considered to be new chemicals if sent for recycling, creating an enormous compliance burden for substances that are already regulated under other statutes.

As a nation, we recognize ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ as goals. But the EPA is undercutting those goals with regulations that discourage the beneficial recycling and reuse of valuable metals in manufacturing byproducts,” Grazman said. “We encourage Congress to directly exempt all byproducts from Section 8, including those that are sent for recycling.”

A copy of Dr. Grazman’s testimony is available at www.ipc.org/EHS-testimony, and a photograph of him testifying is available upon request.


IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,400 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C..; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu and Beijing, China.

Jun 24, 2022 -

North American EMS Industry Up 9.4 Percent in May

Jun 24, 2022 -

IPC APEX EXPO 2023 Call for Participation Deadline Extended

Jun 24, 2022 -

IPC-1402, Standard for Green Cleaners Used in Electronics Manufacturing Now Open for Public Review

Jun 24, 2022 -

Industry Groups Urge U.S. Congress to Fix Weaknesses in Electronics Supply Chain

Jun 16, 2022 -

Registration Open for 4th Annual M-EXPO Wire Processing Technology Expo

Jun 16, 2022 -

Higher Costs Continue to Dominate Electronics Industry Narrative

Jun 02, 2022 -

IPC Issues Call for Participation for IPC E-Textiles 2023

Jun 02, 2022 -

North American EMS Industry up 4.3 Percent in April

Jun 02, 2022 -

North American PCB Industry Sales Up 2.1 Percent in April

Jun 02, 2022 -

AirBorn Inc. Requalifies for IPC/WHMA-A-620 Qualified Manufacturers Listing

1289 more news from Association Connecting Electronics Industries (IPC) »

Jul 06, 2022 -

Offline PCBA Cleaning Machine HJS-7100,rosin flux, non-clean flux,water-soluble flux cleaning machine

Jul 05, 2022 -

Semiconductor Spray Cleaning Machine HJS-9700,Semiconductor Wafer Cleaning Machine HJS-9700

Jul 04, 2022 -

Pneumatic Stencil Cleaner HJS-9000II,dual chamber stencil cleaning machine

Jul 03, 2022 -

Electric Stencil Cleaner HJS-9500, SMT Electric Stencil Cleaner HJS-9500

Jul 01, 2022 -

Screen Cleaning Machine HJS-4600, SMT Screen Cleaning Machine HJS-4600

Jun 30, 2022 -

Electric Fixture Cleaning Machine HJS-6700, SMT pallet cleaning machine, soldering pallet cleaning machine

Jun 29, 2022 -

Waste Water Treatment Machine RWT-1000, SMT Waste Water Treatment Machine RWT-1000

Jun 28, 2022 -

Gen3's Dr Chris Hunt, CTO submits an insightful paper to the journal of Surface Mount Technology

Jun 28, 2022 -

Squeegee Cleaning Machine HJS-3700,SMT Squeegee Cleaning Machine HJS-3700

Jun 27, 2022 -

Solderstar Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation

See electronics manufacturing industry news »

EPA TOXIC SUBSTANCES RULES DISCOURAGE RECYCLING, INDUSTRY EXPERT SAYS news release has been viewed 302 times

  • SMTnet
  • »
  • Industry News
  • »
  • EPA TOXIC SUBSTANCES RULES DISCOURAGE RECYCLING, INDUSTRY EXPERT SAYS
Comprehensive Analytical Services and Support

Jade Series Selective Soldering Machines