The Indiana Recycling Coalition is spearheading an initiative, bring together key private and public sector leaders to find unique solutions for Indiana's businesses and communities in the areas of waste avoidance, reuse, refurbishing, recycling, and proper disposal of electronics scrap (e-scrap).

Our goal:  To build a stronger, more sustainable infrastructure for e-scrap management in the state, offering more environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and cost-effective solutions to all. 

Why is the Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) targeting Electronics Scrap?
*Nearly 12 million personal computers, and other electronics, will become obsolete in Indiana between
  1997 and 2007, making electronics scrap (e-scrap) a growing component of the solid waste stream.
* Electronic equipment often contains toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
When e-scrap is not properly managed, there is risk of groundwater and drinking water contamination,
  air pollution, and more. 
* Current e-scrap management practices do not adequately and consistently protect the environment
  and human health.
* Much discarded technology is reusable, but is not being made available to those in need. 

How will the Program work?
* The two-year Program was kicked off in a press conference and initial stakeholder meeting held on
  May 7, 2003.
* Stakeholders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors will participate in six to ten
  meetings over the course of 14 months, to identify e-scrap problems in the state (the volume of
  obsolete electronics, current availability of responsible management pathways, etc.), and to develop
  solutions that work for Indiana within each tier of the solid waste management hierarchy (reduction,
  reuse, and recycling).
* Program Partners will be empowered and encouraged to exchange ideas, program information, and
  other knowledge to immediately improve their e-scrap management methods.
* A tool kit containing the outcomes of this cooperative information sharing, the solutions identified by the
  group, along with case studies and models, will be produced.  The IRC will publish this tool kit in written
  form and on a web site.
* Through four educational seminars throughout the state, the IRC will train communities and private
  sector leaders to implement the solutions in the tool kit. 
* The IRC will measure and publicize all outcomes of the project, such as how solutions are implemented
  and their impact on reducing inappropriate management of e-scrap in our state.

IRC is seeking committed Program Partners
*Indiana businesses, government units, manufacturers, and organizations that participate in and support
  the Program will gain valuable information from the research conducted by the IRC and from the
  cooperative information sharing within the group.
* This information could help Program Partners reach internal waste minimization goals and decrease
  costs related to procurement of electronics and the management of e-scrap.
* The new and improved options resulting from the Program will make up a sustainable large-scale
  infrastructure for dealing with e-scrap that Program Partners can take advantage of, at lower costs. 
* In addition to Program Partners who participate in the process, the IRC is also seeking Partners for
  additional financial support for the Program.  Those Partners will be prominently recognized in all work
  products of the E-Scrap Action Program.