Transitions, for example, are a problem for her. Anwyn gets so wrapped up in whatever she's doing that having to suddenly change gears, put away her toys, and get ready for dinner, school, or bed often results in a snarling, tear-filled meltdown.

The trick, I've found, is giving her a five-minute warning about what's happening next. Letting Anwyn know ahead of time, and explaining exactly what's expected, has dramatically improved the fun factor for all of us.

Looking at the electronics industry, and its sporadic cleanup attempts, I am increasingly convinced that we need our own version of a five-minute warning. In fact, this much-needed wake-up call may already be in the works, courtesy of the European Union (EU). In a recent article in ChipCenter (www.chipcenter.com), correspondent Dave Bell said the EU is advancing three directives to regulate commercial and consumer products from design through disposal. "Products that don't meet stringent requirements-including all components and subassemblies, and regardless of their country of origin-would be barred from sale," he wrote.

With the volume of electrical and electronic equipment waste expanding at three times the rate of other municipal waste, the EU is developing a plan that requires take-back and recycling of these products, and sharply reduces the amount of toxic materials they contain. And it's not just computers. It's darned near anything that contains electronic components, including IT and telecom equipment, office machinery, lighting, toys, electrical and electronic tools, household appliances, monitoring and control instruments, food and beverage dispensers and medical equipment systems.

In other words, if we want to continue doing business anywhere in Europe, we'd better clean up the way we design, manufacture, and distribute our products-and start changing pronto.

On the bright side, many EU requirements should actually give manufacturers the needed push to implement more efficient, and potentially profitable, technologies and business practices. The other upside is that this legislation will take time to enact. Estimates have the first phases beginning to take effect in about three years, with the most sweeping regulations expected to arrive in five years. Given the glacial pace at which most new business practices are adopted, I'd say we've been given the rough equivalent of the five-minute warning Anwyn gets to clean her room.

While retooling our electronics industry to adopt green engineering practices, product take-back systems and other sustainable principles as part of our business model is a daunting task, if I can get Anwyn to cheerfully straighten her room, anything's possible.

Comments? Questions? Threats? Write me at lgoldberg@green-electronics.com.