Dear Leadfree list members,

Anyone who can make it is invited to the book launch in New York, the
invitation is pasted below. Some members may remember that I posted to the
list some time ago as part of background research for the book. Well, the
book is out now. Lead-free is not the main topic of the book but of course
is covered. To briefly summarize the main message with respect to lead:

The Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is another EU Directive
addressing electronics, one that will have significant consequences for
the global electronics industry. The legislation bans the inclusion of
certain substances into electronics, such as lead in circuit boards. While
it is commendable that the EU is being so proactive on the electronics
issue, the study questions whether the targets of the legislation are
appropriate. The required changes in products are big, big enough such
that meeting the legislation dominates the time and resources of
environmental departments of many manufacturers.  Yet what are the
environmental benefits? While lead is certainly a concern in general, its
leaking from landfill is not obviously a potential problem, especially if
recycling under WEEE collects the machines before they make it into
landfills. ¡§I¡¦m worried that the legislation will make electronics
companies spend a lot of time and resources doing things like chasing the
small amount of lead out of circuit boards, instead of worrying about more
important issues, like extending lifetime¡¨, says Eric Williams.

Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you could forward the message to potentially
interested colleagues in the NY area.

Best regards, Eric



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Invitation

Computers and the Environment:
Understanding and Managing their Impacts

Book launch and workshop, March 8, 2004, UN Secretariat

The United Nations University (UNU) will launch a new book, ¡§Computers
and the Environment: Understanding and Managing their Impacts¡¨ at a
workshop March 8 at UN Headquarters, New York

Time: 3 to 5 p.m., March 8, 2004
Place: Conference Room D, United Nations Secretariat, New York
Participation: Free of charge, but limited to 50 persons and advance
registration is required by March 1st
Please email: Eric Williams, [log in to unmask]
Phone/fax (until March 7th): 1-314-692-2230

Editors and contributors to the volume will present key findings and field
questions related to implications for governments, business and civil
society in managing the environmental impacts of computers. Presenters
includes Eric Williams (United Nations University),  Joseph Sarkis (Clark
University), Harald Podratsky (Fujitsu Siemens), and Jerry Velasquez
(United Nations University).

Background:

Personal computers have made life convenient in many ways, but what about
their impacts on the environment, due to production, use and disposal? The
world¡¦s billionth personal computer was produced in 2002 and the number
continues to grow rapidly. New operating systems and improvements in
performance mean we often buy a new computer every 2-3 years, which adds
up to mountains of waste machines. Also, manufacturing computers requires
prodigious quantities of fossil fuels, toxic chemicals and water. How
should societies respond to manage these environmental impacts?

This new volume from United Nations University and Kluwer Publications is
the first book to address the environmental impacts and management of
computers. It combines in-house research at United Nations University and
contributions from experts around the world, presenting a set of analyses
ranging from environmental assessment of computer manufacturing,
technologies for recycling, consumer behaviour, strategies of computer
firms, and government policies.

Highlights of the book include:

Ć      Research results showing that manufacturing computers is materials
intensive; the total fossil fuels used to make one desktop computer weigh
over 240 kilograms, some 10 times the weight of the machine itself. This
is very high compared to many other goods, in comparison, production of an
automobile or refrigerator, takes fossil fuels roughly equal their
weights. Also, substantial quantities of chemicals, many toxic (22 kg),
and water (1,500 kg) are also used.
Ć      Decisions made by consumers on how PCs are used and disposed of have an
enormous effect on environmental impacts. Research results show that
reselling or upgrading computers saves 5-20 times more energy over the
computer's life cycle as compared to recycling. Extending usable life of
computers is very effective for reducing all types of environmental
burdens. However, relatively few older PCs are being resold, refurbished
or recycled ¡V most are stored in warehouses, basements, or closets and
eventually end up in landfills.
Ć      The environmental benefits and economic costs of recycling computers
under the recently passed European Union WEEE legislation depend very much
on how the system is implemented. Recycling managed by a monopolist
concern, whose main interest is meeting simple recycling targets for a
fixed fee, could result in an expensive system with relatively small
environmental benefit. A multilateral concern aimed at maximizing profit
and reuse across the life cycle presents a more promising picture.

The first 15 registrants will receive a free, signed copy of the book.

For more information on the book and/or the event, see
http://www.it-environment.org/compenv.html or contact:

Eric Williams, Email: [log in to unmask], Phone/fax (until March 7th):
1-314-692-2230

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