"E-waste (electronic waste) is one of the fastest growing and most toxic waste streams -- threatening human health and the environment," said Ted Smith, Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and National Coordinator of the Computer TakeBack Campaign.

This year's evaluation reveals several troubling double standards in the global production of computers: between countries, among companies, and even within companies doing business in different areas of the world. Over the past year, several environmental and health initiatives with important impacts on the high-tech sector have come forth in Europe and Japan. In stark contrast, there have been no major initiatives in the U.S.

"Consumers in the US are receiving second-class treatment from high-tech companies that think they're first-class global companies," said David Wood of the GrassRoots Recycling Network.

The Computer Report Card results indicate that companies maintain disparate practices by meeting higher standards outside of the U.S. Yet these same companies do not transfer these practices back home:

• Since 1989, IBM has offered product take-back programs in certain European countries free of charge where required by law. By contrast, IBM announced a U.S. take-back effort earlier this year, but charge $29.99 for consumers to participate-- a clear disincentive for consumer participation.
• Apple Computer of Germany provides a take-back program where customers can return electronic appliances at no charge due to legislative requirements, but offers no such program to US consumers.
• In a similar case, Sony Electronics and other partners unveiled a limited 5-year program in October 2000 to collect and recycle electronics from residential customers in parts of the US. On the other hand, the same company has a full scale take-back program for computer monitors in Germany.
• Finally, the European Parliament recently voted to phase out the use of some of the most hazardous substances in the electronics industry, as has Japan. As a result, some Japanese companies offer lead free products or products without brominated flame retardants. US companies are lagging well behind.

"Companies in Europe and Asia are embracing producer responsibility," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project. "It's time for U.S. companies to accept extended producer responsibility by designing products that are cleaner and safer, more durable and easier to disassemble, reuse and recycle."

In particular, a widening chasm exists among practices of companies in Japan and those in the US. Seven out of the top ten ranked companies in this year's Computer Report Card are based in Japan. On the overall scores, with few exceptions. most US companies scored near the bottom of the pack. Report Card Leaders and Laggards

Canon (Japan) 35	Hitachi (Japan) 20
Toshiba (Japan) 33	Oki (Japan) 20
IBM (US) 32	Seiko Epson (Japan) 19
Fujitsu (Japan) 30	Compaq (US) 17
Sony (Japan) 30	Matsushita/Panasonic (Japan) 17
NEC (Japan) 27	Dell (US) 16
Hewlett-Packard (US) 26	Samsung (Korea 15)
Brother (Japan) 26	Sharp (Japan) 14
Apple (US) 25	Micron (US) 11
	Gateway (US)9
	Philips (Dutch) 9
	Lexmark (US) 6
	ViewSonic (US) 5
	Acer (Taiwan) 2
	Wyse Technologies (Taiwan) 2
	e-machines (US) 0
	Daewoo (Korea) 0
	Lucky Goldstar (Korea) 0
	AST (Taiwan) 0

One of the key issues is the critical need to implement responsible electronic recycling and management programs--and to have producers accept that responsibility. Currently, most "obsolete" electronic products are not recycled, and the expense of collecting, managing and disposing of discarded electronics is usually borne by taxpayer-funded government programs, primarily at the local level. The Computer TakeBack Campaign's ultimate aims are fostering an ethic of producer responsibility, clean production, pollution prevention and waste avoidance through a hierarchy of practices, including source reduction, reuse, re-manufacturing and recycling.

Report Card Recommendations: 1. For Consumers:
Make use of your purchasing power! It is one of the strongest tools for initiating change in corporate behavior. Buy a new computer only if you really need to and when you do, buy the most environmentally sound option - look for the eco-labels at http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/greendesign/index.html

2. For Governments:
Learn from your counterparts in Europe and Japan and pass laws to establish take back and Extended Producer Responsibility, and phase out the most toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. Use your institutional buying power to promote environmentally preferable purchasing.

3. For Computer Companies:
Follow the lead of your global competitors. Accept full life cycle responsibility for your products. Include clear and concise disclosures about the toxics in your products and how consumers can access take back programs.

The Computer Report Card is being released in over one dozen metropolitan areas, including Boston, MA; NY, NY; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Montpelier, VT, Philadelphia, PA; Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Portland, OR, Austin, TX, Providence, RI; and San Jose, CA. Founding members of the Computer TakeBack Campaign include: As You Sow Foundation, Clean Production Network, Clean Water Action, Communications Workers of America, GrassRoots Recycling Network, INFORM, Materials for the Future Foundation, Mercury Policy Project, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.