Federal E-Waste Effort Gets Mixed Reaction from Environmental Coalition
We are very disappointed that the Task Force missed the opportunity handed to them by President Obama’s mandate to truly lead by example and ensure that all federal agencies do the right thing and not export obsolete used electronic equipment unless it is fully functional.”
E-Waste Export Bill to Stop Global E-Waste Dumping & Boost Green Jobs
Environmental, Bipartisan and Industry Support (Washington, DC – June 23, 2011) U.S. Representatives Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) yesterday introduced new legislation – the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2011, HR 2284- to stop sham U.S. “recyclers” from dumping electronic waste on developing countries and to promote recycling jobs at home. The bill …
FILM RELEASE: New Story of Stuff Project movie demands a ‘Green Moore’s Law’ in the Electronics Industry
The Story of Electronics Why “Designed for the Dump” is Toxic for People and the Planet SAN FRANCISCO, CA – At midnight Pacific on November 9th, The Story of Stuff Project will release The Story of Electronics, an 8-minute animated movie, at www.storyofelectronics.org. Hosted by Annie Leonard, the creator of the hit viral video The …
Printer Companies Not Making the Grade – Flunk Electronics Recycling Report Card
(San Francisco, CA) The Electronics TakeBack Coalition released a new report card today that grades computer, television, printer, and game console companies on their efforts to take back and recycle their old products. Most of the manufacturers passed muster, but most printer companies and some TV ones flunked. The highest marks go to Dell, Samsung, and …
Landmark E-Waste Export Bill Introduced to Stop Global E-Waste Dumping Environmentalists and Electronic Manufacturers Support Effort
U.S. Representatives Gene Green and Mike Thompson yesterday introduced new landmark legislation – H.R. 6252, The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2010 – to stop U.S. “recyclers” from dumping electronic waste on developing countries. The bill is supported by environmental groups as well as electronic manufacturers Apple, Dell, and Samsung, all of which already have policies that prohibit the export of e-waste to developing nations.
GAO Report Correctly Calls for e-Waste Export Controls, but Misses the Mark with Recommendation on Basel Convention
Congress released a Government Accountability office (GAO) report today – Electronic Waste: Considerations for Promoting Environmentally Sound Reuse and Recycling – that seeks to address the management and trade of hazardous electronic wastes. The report correctly urges the EPA to deal with the massive flows of U.S. e-waste, however, the report misses the mark in recommending that the EPA put forward legislation that would ratify the Basel Convention, without first prohibiting the export of hazardous wastes such as electronic waste to developing countries.
Federal Judge Dismissed Industry Lawsuit Against NY City E-Waste Law
A federal court judge today dismissed the lawsuit filed last July by the electronics industry associations against the New York City electronics waste recycling law. The case was rendered moot when the New York legislature passed a statewide e-waste bill that pre-empted the City’s law. That bill was signed into law by Governor Patterson on May 28. Both the State and City laws hold the manufacturers responsible for paying for collection and recycling of old electronic products.
New Resolution Calls on Congress to Lead by Example in Handling Its E-Waste
Representative Mike Thompson yesterday introduced a resolution that calls on Congress to craft a plan to deal with its own e-waste, only using recyclers certified to the new e-Stewards Standard – the highest in the industry.
“In choosing to work only with certified e-Stewards, Congress is saying they want to be sure their old computers and other electronic products don’t end up being exported to developing nations, or sent to prison recycling shops,” said Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. “We are very pleased to see Congress lead by example in solving the problem of global e-waste dumping.”
Electronics Industry Lawsuit Attacks States’ Rights
State and Local Governments call on Industry to Withdraw New York City E-waste Lawsuit
Government officials from across the country today called on the electronics industry to withdraw its lawsuit against the New York City e-waste recycling law, calling the lawsuit a challenge by the electronics industry to the rights of states and cities to pass producer responsibility laws that hold manufacturers accountable for their products.
New TV Recycling Report Card shows many TV companies still have no recycling programs, even though Digital TV Conversion Contributes to E-Waste
With the digital TV conversion occurring on Friday June 12, there will be more ewaste that needs to be disposed of properly. Many TV manufacturers, including a market leader, still offer no electronics recycling program, according to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, who published its TV Company Recycling Report Card today.
“With the upcoming digital TV conversion looming before us, many people don’t know where to take their old TVs, said Electronics TakeBack Coalition National Coordinator Barbara Kyle. “There are some responsible manufactures and retailers who offer takeback programs, but unfortunately not all – including market leader Vizio.”
