California Becomes First U.S. State with E-Waste Law
Gov. Gray Davis has signed the California Electronics Waste Recycling Act of 2003, which establishes a management and handling program for cathode ray tubes found in computer monitors and TVs.
Gov. Gray Davis has signed the California Electronics Waste Recycling Act of 2003, which establishes a management and handling program for cathode ray tubes found in computer monitors and TVs. The e-waste law, which began as Senate Bill 20, provides for the elimination of existing waste stockpiles by the end of 2007.
Under the program, consumers will be able to recycle obsolete computers and televisions that contain lead and other toxic heavy metals. Electronic waste poses a threat when dumped in landfills because the metals can leach into the ground and contaminate drinking water supplies. Retailers and manufacturers would finance the program through a fee on every covered electronic device sold. Fee levels would be set based on the actual cost of recycling. Initial fees starting July 1, 2004 would be $6 to $10 per device.
Also in July 2004, California retailers will begin collecting an e-waste recycling fee for store-bought, mail-order and Internet purchases. The fees are $6 for products with video display screens between 4 inches and 15 inches; $8 for screens between 15 inches and 35 inches; and $10 for products with screens larger than 35 inches. The California Integrated Waste Management Board will be able to impose fees up to $5,000 for violations. Revenues will be deposited in an Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account and will fund payments to authorized waste collectors and recyclers to cover the net costs for operating e-waste programs for the public. Beginning in July 2005, electronic product manufacturers must report their approximate annual sales of covered products to the board.
"This law is an easy, cost-effective way to protect Californians from toxic e-waste," said Victoria Rome, a legislative associate with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).
"This is one of the most important environmental bills of the year," said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. "This measure will provide the public with a safe, reliable and convenient option for recycling their obsolete electronics. In the process, this measure will help put an end to the illegal dumping of toxic e-waste both here and abroad.
In addition to financing a “free and convenient” recycling system, SB 20 contains provisions to reduce the use of toxic material in electronic devices.
"The producer responsibility provisions of this measure include a 2007 ban on the use of some of the most toxic materials in electronic devices sold in California," said Rico Mastrodonato, executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Additionally, manufacturers will be required to report on efforts to reduce the use of toxic materials and design their devices for recycling."
SB 20 will also implement a first in the nation restriction on the export of toxic electronic waste.
"Under the law's provisions, recyclers would be prohibited from exporting e-waste to the developing world except under the most rigorous of conditions, thus putting California 'sham' recyclers out of business" said Fred Keeley, executive director of the Planning and Conservation League. "SB 20 will help ensure that the developing world does not become a dumping ground for California's toxic e-waste."
SB 20 is supported by a broad coalition of environmental organizations, local governments, private and non-profit recyclers, and electronics producers.
"With the life cycle of computers and other consumer electronics getting shorter and shorter, consumers are getting stuck with the growing and increasingly toxic problem of what to do with them," said Bill Magavern of Sierra Club California. "This measure represents an important first step in the effort to get manufacturers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products."
"There are about six million of these obsolete TVs and computers stockpiled in people's homes because their hazardous material makes it illegal to take them to a landfill," said Senator Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto), the bill's author. "We have worked for three years to create a recycling process that will be easy and inexpensive for consumers to avail themselves of, and at long last, we now have such a law. Once again, California is leading the way as the first state in the nation to propose a solution to the e-waste crisis. I believe many other states will follow suit."
Under the program, consumers will be able to recycle obsolete computers and televisions that contain lead and other toxic heavy metals. Electronic waste poses a threat when dumped in landfills because the metals can leach into the ground and contaminate drinking water supplies. Retailers and manufacturers would finance the program through a fee on every covered electronic device sold. Fee levels would be set based on the actual cost of recycling. Initial fees starting July 1, 2004 would be $6 to $10 per device.
Also in July 2004, California retailers will begin collecting an e-waste recycling fee for store-bought, mail-order and Internet purchases. The fees are $6 for products with video display screens between 4 inches and 15 inches; $8 for screens between 15 inches and 35 inches; and $10 for products with screens larger than 35 inches. The California Integrated Waste Management Board will be able to impose fees up to $5,000 for violations. Revenues will be deposited in an Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account and will fund payments to authorized waste collectors and recyclers to cover the net costs for operating e-waste programs for the public. Beginning in July 2005, electronic product manufacturers must report their approximate annual sales of covered products to the board.
"This law is an easy, cost-effective way to protect Californians from toxic e-waste," said Victoria Rome, a legislative associate with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).
"This is one of the most important environmental bills of the year," said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. "This measure will provide the public with a safe, reliable and convenient option for recycling their obsolete electronics. In the process, this measure will help put an end to the illegal dumping of toxic e-waste both here and abroad.
In addition to financing a “free and convenient” recycling system, SB 20 contains provisions to reduce the use of toxic material in electronic devices.
"The producer responsibility provisions of this measure include a 2007 ban on the use of some of the most toxic materials in electronic devices sold in California," said Rico Mastrodonato, executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Additionally, manufacturers will be required to report on efforts to reduce the use of toxic materials and design their devices for recycling."
SB 20 will also implement a first in the nation restriction on the export of toxic electronic waste.
"Under the law's provisions, recyclers would be prohibited from exporting e-waste to the developing world except under the most rigorous of conditions, thus putting California 'sham' recyclers out of business" said Fred Keeley, executive director of the Planning and Conservation League. "SB 20 will help ensure that the developing world does not become a dumping ground for California's toxic e-waste."
SB 20 is supported by a broad coalition of environmental organizations, local governments, private and non-profit recyclers, and electronics producers.
"With the life cycle of computers and other consumer electronics getting shorter and shorter, consumers are getting stuck with the growing and increasingly toxic problem of what to do with them," said Bill Magavern of Sierra Club California. "This measure represents an important first step in the effort to get manufacturers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products."
"There are about six million of these obsolete TVs and computers stockpiled in people's homes because their hazardous material makes it illegal to take them to a landfill," said Senator Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto), the bill's author. "We have worked for three years to create a recycling process that will be easy and inexpensive for consumers to avail themselves of, and at long last, we now have such a law. Once again, California is leading the way as the first state in the nation to propose a solution to the e-waste crisis. I believe many other states will follow suit."
