Ana-Maria Stoian-Chu
As the calendar inches closer to this year’s E-Scrap Conference, we’re taking a look at one of the experts who will take the stage in New Orleans.Ana-Maria Stoian-Chu is manager of the Electronic Waste Recycling Program at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). She’ll be discussing the major changes that may be coming to the country’s oldest electronics recycling program. Stoian-Chu will speak during a session titled “State Program Evolution” on Oct. 10. To learn more about that session and others, see the full E-Scrap 2018 session schedule.Why is CalRecycle looking at changes to the state’s electronics recycling program?Since the passage of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, more than 2.2 billion pounds of covered electronic waste have been recycled. The rapidly evolving electronics technology, lower intrinsic scrap material value, and disruptive global markets have impacted the state’s electronics recycling. To ensure the continued success of electronics recycling in California and maintain the existing robust collection and recycling infrastructure, CalRecycle has considered a set of recommendations to its existing program, such as expanding the number and type of products covered. Some of these enhancements could be pursued within the existing legislative framework while others would require new legislation. Which changes have already been made that directly affect processors?California’s Covered Electronic Waste recycling program recently adopted important changes that affect recyclers participating in the payment system. Earlier this year, it bifurcated the single payment rate paid to recyclers to establish separate payment rates for cathode-ray tube covered electronic waste and non-cathode-ray tube covered electronic waste such as LCD TVs and monitors, plasma TVs, laptops and tablets. Subsequently, effective July 1, 2018, it significantly increased the payment rate for non-cathode-ray tube covered electronic waste paid to recyclers. How do the program updates relate to California’s larger recycling efforts? The current program updates as well as the policy recommendations regarding the future of electronic waste management in California relate to California’s efforts to maximize resource recovery, promote the waste management hierarchy, maintain convenient collection opportunities for the public and ensure proper management of electronic waste. Stoian-Chu will speak during a session titled “State Program Evolution,” to be held 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10. She will be joined by Amanda Cotton of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Jeff Gloyd of URT Solutions and Jonathan King of TCL North America. The session will be moderated by Garth Hickle, an independent consultant who was formerly with the state of Minnesota’s electronics recycling program. E-Scrap 2018 is taking place Oct. 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Last year’s conference welcomed more than 1,100 attendees from 45 states, seven Canadian provinces and 33 countries, and the trade show featured 135 exhibitors. Head to e-scrapconference.com for all the latest on attending, sponsoring and exhibiting in 2018.
