Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 14:42:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Californians Against Waste Foundation <CAW@no.address>
[]
Support needed for CAW legislation
to address latest emerging E-waste crisis
Dear Friends:
Starting on February 8 -- just a week from now
-- Californians will be prohibited from
disposing most consumer electronic products
(computers, cell phones, all household
batteries, fluorescent lamps, mercury
thermostats, printers, VCRs, telephones,
answering machines, radios, and microwaves) in their trash.
In just the last several years, experts and
state regulators have recognized that most
common consumer electronic devices contain toxic
levels of heavy metals and other hazardous
materials (lead, mercury, cadmium) which pose a
threat to public health and the environment.
While the disposal ban is a necessary first
step, to date, manufactures and policy
makers--with a few exceptions--have failed to
undertake the steps needed to educate consumers
about this new problem, or to help develop
opportunities and incentives for recycling.
Californians Against Waste is working with some
members or the Legislature and other
stakeholders on a package of common sense,
people-friendly policies to address this
emerging crisis. But we need your help. Our goal
is to push manufacturers to phase out the use of
toxic materials in their devices, while making
the opportunity to do the right thing and
recycle as simple and conconvenient as recycling a bottle or can.
It simply isn't fair to impose new regulations
on Californians without giving them an easy,
understandable way of complying with them. The
Legislature needs to hear from you today that
you support the package of E-Waste bills that they'll soon be voting on.
Please click
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=78916583&url_num=1&url=http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/CAW//campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2407>here
to help us convince the Legislature to implement this package of bills.
Thank you.
Mark Murray
Executive Director
P.S. The Legislature must develop new policies
to make sure Californians can comply with the
new e-waste regulations.
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=78916583&url_num=2&url=http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/CAW//campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2407>Please
go here to help CAW protect the environment and our children's health.
Excerpts from Letter drafted for you to send at the above website:
The California Legislature must again take the
lead in adopting policies for establishing a
'free and convenient' recycling system for all
toxic electronics. Californians Against Waste is
preparing a package of legislation to address
this emerging crisis. Among the bills are measures to:
? Expand California?s E-waste Recovery law (SB 20
Sher-2003) to include toxic computers (CPU?s) and
other 'bulky' hazardous electronics.
? Require manufacturers to phase out the use of
hazardous materials in all consumer electronics.
? Expand California?s Existing Cellphone and
Rechargeable Battery Take-back Requirements to
include other toxic portable electronic devices.
? Establish a Consumer Refund Value system for
one-time use toxic electronics such as household (Alkaline) batteries.
? Establish a Differential ADF on Fluorescent
Lamps to encourage Mercury Reduction and Increased Recycling.
? Establish and Fund a statewide public Education Campaign.
As a constituent I urge you to vote "YES" on
these bills as they come before you. Thank you
in advance for your assistance on this crucial issue.
Gary Liss & Associates
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com
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