Considering E-Waste Recycling Laws

Considering E-Waste Recycling Laws

Feb 2007 - In Illinois, a 
bill has been introduced to responsibly deal with electronic 
waste, usually called e-waste. 
SB1583, the Electronic Scrap Recycling Act, sponsored by State 
Senator Susan Garrett, would create and finance a collection, 
transportation, and processing system throughout the state for 
the convenient, safe, and environmentally sound recycling of 
electronic products. The bill is expected to create more than 
20 companies and over 1,800 jobs in Illinois. 
"I'm pleased to sponsor what will be a first in the Midwest 
solution to the growing problem of electronic waste," said 
Garrett, a Democrat. "The recycling system we're proposing 
will solve a number of problems - the amount of landfill space 
electronics takes up, the risk of toxic materials leaking into 
our groundwater, and the tragic practice of junk computers 
going to disadvantaged countries, where they rot in piles that 
become toxic mountains." 
By January 2009, manufacturers would be responsible for 
establishing and funding the program, retailers for consumer 
education, consumers for turning in their old electronics, 
and, ultimately, state government for oversight and 
enforcement. 
The program would cover equipment such as computers, monitors, 
televisions, printers, fax machines, cell phones, calculators 
and PDAs. 
Joe Shacter, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law 
and Policy Center, said, "We're pleased that Senator Garrett's 
legislation would create a shared responsibility system in 
which manufacturers fund a recycling system and retailers 
serve as the primary educators of consumers about how to 
recycle." 
The bill stipulates that by January 2009, any covered 
electronic devices sold in the state must meet the 
Restrictions on Hazardous Standards already in force in the 
European Union regarding allowable amounts of lead, mercury, 
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, or 
polybrominated diphenyl ethers used in the manufacturing of 
electronic devices. 
"The more types of waste we can recycle, the better," said 
Mike Nowak, Board member of the Chicago Recycling Coalition 
and WGN Radio personality. "This is a perfect complement to 
the City of Chicago's move to replace the blue bag system with 
curbside collection of many other types of waste." 
Two years after the bill takes effect, in 2011, the bill would 
make it illegal in Illinois to dispose of any covered 
electronic in a landfill or incinerator. The extra two years 
would allow Illinois' recycling infrastructure time to prepare 
for the extra volume. 
Of the 2.6 million tons of obsolete electronics, or E-Waste, 
generated in the U.S. in 2005, only 330,000 tons were 
recycled. E-Waste is the fastest growing element in the solid 
waste stream, and the vast majority of it - 87.5 percent - 
ends up in landfills, seeping toxic waste into the 
groundwater. 
Despite this, the federal government has taken no action to 
date and only four states - all on the East and West coasts - 
have passed legislation to address this growing crisis. 
"E-scrap's toxics like mercury and lead are dangerous in 
minuscule doses," said Max Muller, Environmental Advocate at 
Environment Illinois. Even well-run landfills can leak, and 
who's to say these products will even make it to landfills? If 
we want to ensure these chemicals don't end up in the 
groundwater Illinoisans drink, then providing convenient, 
statewide recycling and prohibiting e-scrap in landfills is 
the way to do it."

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