North American Hazardous Materials Management Association

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NAHMMA Policy Statement on Product Stewardship and Chemical Policy Reform

March, 2010

Staples Starts First National Retail Electronics Collection Based on Recycling Pilot - News Release - May 21, 2007
Boston - Staples, Inc., the office super-store, today became the first major retailer to collect used electronics from its customers. The announcement came three years after a trial effort showed that items such as computers could be easily recycled at low cost to consumers and retailers. Staples will accept all brands of computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes, and all-in-one devices at its U.S. stores for a fee of $10 per large item. Televisions, which Staples does not sell, are not accepted. Visit the Product Stewardship Institute website for more information and to see the full press release.

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The USEPA Region 7 Solid Waste Program provided grant money to the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center to produce this website along with a national HHW listserv. The listserv provides institutional memory and shared experiences that aid subscribers in the understanding and improvement of HHW operations.

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NAHMMA helped support the following press release: EPA's Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3)

(Washington, D.C. - March 23, 2007) In a national kickoff, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign to help schools prevent chemical accidents. Under this program, EPA, working with the U.S. Department of Education and industry, will help schools safely manage chemicals. Across the country, EPA estimates that about 33,000 middle and high schools have laboratory and other chemicals that could cause accidents and injure students.

"We're ready to help schools take practical steps to prevent accidents, spills, and fires. This program is not only good for our schools but also can keep our environment safe and clean for generations to come," said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign is an effort to help schools safely manage their chemicals and avoid costly and possibly dangerous accidents. Through the campaign, schools are connected with local chemical management experts and a web-based toolkit.

"Our schools must provide safe, healthy environments for students to learn and fully reach their potential," Deborah Price, Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, said. "We're pleased to work with the EPA to address this issue and better ensure the well-being of our children and the safety of our schools."

At an event today, EPA and the Department of Education recognized Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., and Arlington Public Schools for their exemplary work on implementing a responsible chemical management program. EPA also recognized the program charter partners, including the American Chemistry Council, the Synthetic and Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association and the Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition for their commitment to help schools manage chemicals better.

The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign aims to ensure that all schools are free from hazards associated with mismanaged chemicals. The campaign gives K-12 schools information and tools to responsibly manage chemicals and its partners offer a broad range of services from conducting chemical inventories to training school personnel in responsible chemical management.

Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) - August 4, 2006: NAHMMA co-sponsored a petition regarding the disclosure of inert ingredients in pesticides. The petition was signed by 15 attorney generals and 20 other organizations and submitted to EPA. Sen. Clinton announced that she will introduce legislation requiring identification of inert ingredients on pesticide labels.

Comments to EPA on Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) - January 2006

Comments to SWANA on Hurricane Katrina Briefing Report - October 2005

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First Nationwide Mercury Thermostat Collection Program for Homeowners - Click HERE for press release from the Product Stewardship Institute.

At the February 2010 Board Workshop, NAHMMA finalized an important statement of the organization’s position on chemicals policy reform and product stewardship. The statement focuses on “upstream” solutions to the problems posed by hazardous products in the municipal wastestream. Because we work to address the impacts on public health and the environment of hazardous waste from homes and small businesses, NAHMMA as an organization is in a unique position to promote these two important policy issues, and in particular on the way the two policy approaches working in tandem can have a substantial impact on the products we manage in our programs.

NAHMMA Policy Statement on Chemicals Policy Reform and Product Stewardship (Summary)

NAHMMA Policy Statement on Chemicals Policy Reform and Product Stewardship (Full Text)

The Committee encourages all NAHMMA members to become familiar with these two issues and NAHMMA’s position on them, and then to advocate for changes through your own organization. If you would like to get involved with the Policy Committee and help strategize on next steps, contact Jim Quinn, jim.quinn@oregonmetro.gov.