The Context for Product StewardshipManufactured Globally

No Economic Incentivefor Manufacturers to Minimize Environmental Impacts

The Context for Product StewardshipManufactured Globally

Disposed Locally

GO DIRECTLY TO LANDFILL

DO NOT PASS GO

The Context for Product Stewardship

Disposed Locally

Should the public have

to pay to recycle

someone else’s

computer?

The Context for Product Stewardship

The Flow of Consumer Goods

The Context for Product Stewardship

JAPANESE MODELMandated Responsibility

Manufacturers set front-end fees for end-of-life management

Retailers collect fees

Fees cover orphan & historic waste

Consumers return products to retailers or municipalities

Manufacturers compete to lower fees

Manufacturers and recyclers are financially linked

• Those who benefit from a product are responsible for minimizing the environmental impacts throughout the life of the product.

• Lifecycle costs - including the costs of recycling or disposal - are included in the total product cost.

• Manufacturers have an incentive to design products that are less toxic, more recyclable and which result in less waste.