Report 2008-112 Highlights - November 2008

Electronic Waste:

Some State Agencies Have Discarded Their Electronic Waste Improperly, While State and Local Oversight Is Limited

HIGHLIGHTS

Our review of five state agencies' practices for handling electronic waste (e-waste) revealed that:

• The Department of Motor Vehicles and the Employment Development Department improperly disposed of electronic devices in the trash between January 2007 and July 2008.
• The California Highway Patrol, Department of Transportation, and Department of Justice did not clearly indicate how they disposed of some of their e-waste; however, all indicated that they too have discarded some e-waste in the trash.
• The lack of clear communication from oversight agencies, coupled with some state employees' lack of knowledge about e-waste, contributed to these instances of improper disposal.
• State agencies do not consistently report the amount of e-waste they divert from municipal landfills. Further, reporting such information on e-waste is not required.
• State and local oversight of e-waste generators is infrequent, and their reviews may not always identify instances when state agencies have improperly discarded e-waste.

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