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[GreenYes] San Francisco Passes Resolution Calling Batter EPR Inadequate
- Subject: [GreenYes] San Francisco Passes Resolution Calling Batter EPR Inadequate
- From: "Bill Sheehan" <zerowaste@grrn.org>
- Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 08:50:56 -0400
NOTE: THIS RESOLUTION PASSED SAN FRANCISCO'S
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JULY 9, 2001, WITH A
UNANIMOUS VOTE.
For immediate release: July 2, 2001
SUPERVISOR SANDOVAL TAKES ON TOXIC BATTERIES,
INTRODUCES RESOLUTION URGING CITY TO USE
RECHARGABLE BATTERIES, ORDINANCE ON THE WAY
San Francisco will be on its way to reducing toxic heavy
metals in landfill when city departments stop using non-
rechargeable batteries, and improve recycling. Supervisor
Gerardo Sandoval will introduce a resolution today urging
battery manufacturers and recyclers to help The City develop
an expanded and affordable battery recycling program for
City departments, and to develop a program to inform
residents about battery toxicity and recycling opportunities.
Supervisor Sandoval will introduce an ordinance requiring
city departments to purchase rechargeable batteries
whenever possible in coming months.
"Non-rechargeable batteries are a waste of City money, a
waste of natural resources, and a threat to our public health,"
said Supervisor Sandoval. "San Francisco should be a
leader in resource conservation, not a leader in generating
waste."
Some rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to one
thousand times, each one substituting for hundreds of single-
use batteries over its useful life.
Most batteries contain heavy metals, including cadmium,
mercury, silver, lead, nickel, and zinc. Health effects
associated with ingestion or inhalation of water, food, or air
that has been contaminated with high levels of these metals
range from headaches and abdominal discomfort to
seizures, cancer, comas, and even death. Cadmium is an
acutely toxic metal and a known carcinogen that has been
shown to affect lung, liver, and kidney damage, anemia, and
decrease in male fertility.
Batteries that contain heavy metals are considered toxic
waste, but few batteries are disposed of correctly. Instead,
the vast majority end up in landfill where metals can leach
into the environment.
"Recycling is an important part of the picture," said
Sandoval. "When we use batteries, even rechargeable
batteries, we need to make sure that they are taken out of
the waste stream so they can't do any harm."
Supervisor Sandoval's resolution follows a resolution passed
by San Francisco's Commission on the Environment, which
urges restrictions on the use of non-rechargeable batteries
in order to protect and preserve human and environmental
health.
http://www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment/
###
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