Landmark Bill Passes to Provide Free, Simple and Safe Electronic Waste Recycling
OLYMPIA, WA - In what will be the most significant advancement made in recycling in a generation, the Washington State legislature today passed the Electronic Waste Recycling bill – which will provide all residents with free, safe and simple recycling of computers and TVs.
It is not every day that Republicans and Democrats, businesses and environmentalists, retailers, charities and local governments all line up in support of a single piece of legislation. That is what happened this year to make possible this landmark recycling program.
“The overwhelming show of support behind the bill is due to its common sense approach and the hard work of all the partners -- a wide and diverse coalition of business and public interest groups -- as well as legislators from both sides of the aisle,� said Mo McBroom, Policy Director for Washington Environmental Council, one of the key groups supporting the bill. The bill (SB 6428) passed by wide margins in both houses: 38-11 in the Senate and 69-29 in the House. The two prime sponsors of the bill are Senator Craig Pridemore ( Vancouver , WA ) and Representative Brian Sullivan ( Everett , WA ).
This proposal was also one of four Priorities for a Healthy Washington – the selected top issues for the state’s environmental community for 2006. This select status was a key factor in the bill’s maintaining strong momentum throughout the legislative process.
Why is the new law needed?
The need for a solution is urgent. Electronic waste, or “e-waste� contains valuable materials such as glass, metals, and plastic. One ton of old PCs has as much gold in it as 17 tons of gold ore. By recycling e-waste, we conserve scarce natural resources.
A typical television also contains mercury and between 4 and 8 pounds of lead. This toxic brew of chemicals must be handled responsibly to protect people’s health and the environment.
Unfortunately, with no statewide program for recycling electronics, more than 90 percent of electronic waste in Washington has continued to be stored (in basements, garages, offices, closets and homes) or tossed in the garbage as consumers snap up the latest versions of their favorite technology. That will now change.
What will the new law do and why is it so significant?
At its core, this legislation is about sharing the responsibility for recycling. It is based on the concept of product stewardship - that manufacturers have a responsibility to finance the recycling of the products that they create. Because manufacturers will finance the program as part of their costs of doing business, the program will not result in additional taxes or fees for consumers.
This approach, used by many countries in Europe and Asia , provides manufacturers with a direct financial incentive to decrease the costs associated with recycling, resulting in greener design: easily recyclable products that use fewer toxics.
“This is now the most extensive product stewardship bill in the US �, said Suellen Mele of Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation. “The manufacturers will be highly involved in making the recycling system work.�
Consumers will have a responsibility to bring unwanted computers and TVs to an approved drop-off site or service, which may be run by local retailers, charities, governments, haulers and others. Since there will be no fee for dropping off these out-dated electronics, the rate of participation will be as high as possible.
This is also a big win for economic development and will create hundreds of new jobs.
Find out more from ESW organization Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation:
http://www.wastenotwashington.org/
