Regulatory standard setting for managing e-waste in the US. An exploratory study based on the Governance Triangle.

The physical environment is a big societal and scientific concern. E-waste is one of the fastest growing environmental problems. The US is one of the biggest producers of e-waste but it has no federal regulation. Little is known about the regulatory situation in the US. Therefore, this exploratory research study, based on the Governance Triangle, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulatory playing field on e-waste in the US. It describes the regulatory activities within and between the actor groups States, Firms, and NGOs. Furthermore, it provides information on how the Governance Triangle applies to the e-waste case. The result of this study is that the regulatory playing field of e-waste in the US is dominated by regulatory initiatives from states and firms. NGOs and joint initiatives are also involved, and the federal government only to a very limited extent. A law prohibiting e-waste export and endorsing responsible ways of treating e-waste are essential actions of the US federal government in stopping the e-waste problem. This study adds to existing literature by creating a comprehensive overview of the regulatory process on e-waste, providing suggestions and knowledge for future research, and showing that the Governance Triangle is broadly applicable.