(, MD, Chair)
Whereas, the manufacture, use and disposal of
electronic products has a broad range of environmental and
health impacts including the use of carcinogenic
materials, toxic chemicals, air and groundwater pollution,
poor working conditions and ozone depletion; and
Whereas, due to the higher sales and shorter life spans
of electronic products, electronic waste has become the
world’s fastest growing waste stream and the National
Safety Council predicts that in the U.S. between 315
million and 680 million computers will become obsolete
within the next few years (in California alone, 6,000
computers become obsolete every day); and
Whereas, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency, 70% of the heavy metals (including mercury and
cadmium) found in landfills comes from discarded
electronic products, and the heavy metals and other
hazardous substances found in electronics contaminate
groundwater and pose other environmental and public health
risks; and
Whereas, electronic waste contains significant amounts
of PVC, which makes the flue gas residues and air
emissions particularly dangerous to human health; and
Whereas, at present, brand owners, producers and
original equipment manufacturers bear none of the burden
or responsibility for safely managing discarded electronic
equipment at the end of its useful life, instead burdening
taxpayers, local governments and end users with these
costs and responsibilities; and
Whereas, in the European Union and several Asian
nations, brand owners, producers and original equipment
manufacturers bear financial responsibility for ensuring
the environmentally superior management of discarded and
obsolete electronic equipment and for phasing out toxic
materials such as lead, mercury and brominated flame
retardants; and
Whereas, the health care industry increasingly relies
on and uses electronic products in all facets of
operation; and
Whereas, electronic manufacturers can take back their
products at the end of life to safely reuse, and recycle
the components and redesign products with minimal use of
harmful materials; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage its members and U.S.
health institutions to adopt purchasing or leasing
contracts only with electronics manufacturers who are
committed to safely handling the products at the end of
life, meaning that they reuse and recycle to the greatest
extent possible, do not export hazardous electronic waste
to developing countries and safely dispose of the waste
that can not be reused or recycled; and be it further (New
HOD Policy)
RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage its members and U.S.
health institutions to provide purchasing/leasing
preferences to electronics manufacturers that minimize the
use of toxic and hazardous constituents, use recycled
content and design products that can be easily recycled in
order to minimize the adverse public health impacts from
electronic waste; and be it further (New HOD Policy)
RESOLVED, That our AMA support policies that hold
electronics manufacturers responsible for taking back
their products at the end of life, with the objective of
re-designing their products for longevity and reduction of
harmful materials. (New HOD Policy)
Fiscal Note: No Significant Fiscal Impact
