PUB2987

Waste Management Program

fact sheet

Division of Environmental Quality

Director: Kyra Moore

Best management practices are practicable and effective standards to identify strategies for collecting, processing and transporting e-scrap in Missouri in a way that protects the environment. WEEE-cycling businesses that adopt these standards are committed to the responsible management of end-of-life electronic equipment, components and materials.

General Operations

Cog wheels
  1. Follow all applicable environmental laws and regulations. This includes notification, permit and registration requirements, if applicable. See the “Manufacturer Responsibility and Consumer Convenience Equipment Collection and Recovery Act,” Sections 260.1050 to 260.1101.
  2. Maintain documentation of environmental, safety and security audits by regulatory agencies.
  3. Maintain general liability insurance coverage. Make certificate copies available to upstream sources (generators/suppliers).
  4. Maintain and document a plan to close the facility.

Inventory Control

Stacks of boxes
  1. Keep a detailed and complete inventory of all equipment coming in and the components and materials going out.
  2. Document the transfer of ownership of all electronic equipment, components and materials received.
  3. Provide documentation of tax-deductible donations of equipment (non-profit organizations),if applicable.
  4. Maintain a level of recycling at or above 90%.

Maximize Value, Minimize Risk

Leaning dominoes
  1. Evaluate electronic equipment and components to determine their functional value, using the following hierarchy of management options, in order of preference:
    1. Reuse
    2. Repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing
    3. Recovery of functional components
  2. Recycling of constituent materials
  3. Remove components of concern such as fluorescent tubes, mercury-containing switches and relays, leaded glass and lithium and nickel-cadmium batteries before shredding equipment for recycling, unless excluded by environmental regulation.
  4. Audit downstream vendors in the chain of custody, both domestic and international, requiring documentation of regulatory compliance and responsible recycling and disposal of materials.

Responsible Export Practices

Water, ships at dock loaded with trailers
  1. Follow all applicable environmental laws and regulations, including country-specific import or export regulations.
  2. Maintain documentation for exports of electronic equipment and components from the United States, including:
    1. Shipping manifests identifying the recipient and showing make, model and condition for all declared reuse items
    2. Any other information necessary to complete the export
  3. Tested, working cathode ray tubes, electronic equipment and raw materials resulting from manufacturing can be exported. All other electronic equipment is excluded from export except to countries that meet the following criteria:
    1. Members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
    2.  Members of the European Community
    3. Countries that have entered into an agreement with the United States that allow for such export

Transportation Practices

Airplane, ship, trucks, stack of boxes, earth globe with packages on the continents

Follow Cathode ray tube regulations listed in the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 261.39 regarding transport, storage and labeling CRTs in transport.


Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.


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