Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:32:19 -0800
From: "johnniec" <jcarlson@no.address>
INSIDE: Two More Cities Set to Add Their Voice to the Electronic Waste
issue - Exporting Harm& - The Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True
Stewardship - California Legislature Embraces Producer Responsibility
February 25, 2003 - Volume 8. Number 5. ONLINE at
<http://www.cawrecycles.org/>http://www.cawrecycles.org
Two More Cities Set to Add Their Voice to the Electronic Waste issue
San Francisco, Berkeley and Imperial Beach are expected to introduce
E-waste Recycling Take-Back Ordinances in March.
The proposed ordinances would require retailers of computers and
televisions to establish a take-back program, whereby consumers would be
able to bring back the obsolete products to any retailer at no additional
cost. Retailers would then be responsible for the safe and proper
recycling of the e-waste. The ordinance would sunset if a statewide
program is enacted.
The
<http://www.cawrecycles.org/Local%20Government/Model%20Take%20Back%20Ordina
nce%20(CRT%20devices%20only).doc>Model Ordinance was developed by
Californians Against Waste, with assistance from local officials and
e-waste recycling experts. CAW is working with cities and counties
statewide to encourage their introduction.
If you are interested in having an E-waste ordinance introduced in your
community, please contact CAW. CAW organizers will provide the necessary
research, media and lobbying support. Los Angeles introduced the ordinance
earlier this month and garnered substantial national and even
international media attention.
For more information, contact Kevin Greene at
<mailto:kgreene@no.address>kgreene@no.address or Jessica Fiedor
at <mailto:jfiedor@no.address>jfiedor@no.address, or call CAW at
916-443-5422. A summary and copy of the model ordinance and related
materials can be accessed by visiting www.cawrecycles.org.
Exporting Harm
To China
Last year, the Basel Action Network s and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
s <http://www.cawrecycles.org/Ewaste/exporting.pdf>Exporting Harm: The
High-Tech Trashing of Asia reported that 50%-80% of electronic waste
collected for recycling in North America was actually being sent to
developing countries such as China. There, the hazardous e-waste was
simply dumped in the environment or processed by laborers with no
protective gear or clothing. One year later, the Washington Post found
that this problem is only getting worse.
Peter Goodman of the Washington Post went back to the Guiyu region in
China and found mountains of e-waste from the US, Europe, and Japan. Even
though Chinese officials in the port outside of the Guiyu region have
gotten strict about enforcing their ban of imports of discarded
electronics, the wastes still find their way into the area. Chase
Electronics Inc. of Philadelphia buys discarded computers in the US and
then ships them to China through Taiwanese middlemen based in Los
Angeles. Mark Dallura, head of the company, said, I could care less where
they [shipments of computer monitors] go . . . My job is to make money.
<http://www.cawrecycles.org/Press%20Room/News%20Clips/Ewaste%20News/Washing
ton%20Post%20022403%20China%20Serves%20as%20Dump%20Site.doc>Read the full
article.
To Thailand
Thailand is now becoming a target for international e-waste
traders. Earlier this month, at least 100 containers of used electronics
were sitting at Bangkok's Klong Toei port with no registered owners and
nowhere to go. The materials were imported with the help of "dubious
local businessmen," according to Thai federal
officials.
<http://www.cawrecycles.org/Press%20Room/News%20Clips/Ewaste%20News/Nation%
20021103%20Thailand.doc>Read the full article.
Basel Action Network and Greenpeace call on Thailand to ban all imports of
toxic
waste.
<http://www.cawrecycles.org/Ewaste/BAN%20Thailand%20press%20release.doc>Rea
d their Press Release.
The Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship
Finally, A Responsible Way to Get Rid of that Old Computer!
Electronics Recyclers Pledge: "No Export, No Dumping, No Prisons"
Fifteen private electronics recycling firms representing 21 facilities
throughout North America announced today that they have joined forces with
environmental organizations and agreed to uphold the world s most rigorous
environmental and social criteria for the dismantling and recycling of
electronic wastes (e-waste). The criteria are contained in the landmark
"Electronics Recycler s Pledge of True Stewardship*" that was developed in
conjunction with members of the <http://www.computertakeback.com/>Computer
TakeBack Campaign, including the Basel Action Network (BAN), the Silicon
Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), and Californians Against Waste.
<http://www.ban.org/E-waste/Pledge/Pledgefront.html>Read More.
California Legislature Embraces Producer Responsibility
Last week's bill introduction deadline in the State Legislature brought
with it a wave of more than 50 bills in the area of solid and hazardous
waste reduction and recycling. Not since the early 1990s has there been so
much interest in waste reduction and recycling policy.
What's particularly significant is the focus on Producer Responsibility
approaches to waste prevention, recycling and clean-up. So far this year,
legislation has been introduced requiring the producers of such problem
products as hazardous electronics, automobiles, fluorescent lamps, plastic
bags and containers, diapers, dry cleaning fluid and other hazardous
products, to take responsibility for the recycling and clean-up of their
products.
Policy makers are coming to recognize especially during a state budget
crisis that requiring producers to take responsibility for reducing the
environmental threats posed by their products is not just good
environmental policy, it s good fiscal policy, said CAW Executive Director
Mark Murray.
Among the key Producer Responsibility measures introduced thus far:
SB 20 (Sher). This measure, the details of which will soon be forthcoming,
will require the producers of hazardous electronics, including
televisions, computers, and cell phones, to develop and finance a
collection and recycling system for their devices.
SB 204 (Perata). This measure would establish an advanced recycling fee
of ¼ of one cent on each diaper product sold (25 cents per 100 diapers
sold). Funds would be used to provide grants to local agencies for diaper
recycling/composting programs.
SB 511 (Figueroa). This bill requires manufacturers to ensure that all of
their mercury-containing fluorescent lamps are properly collected,
transported, and recycled, and establishes that they are responsible for
all costs involved.
SB 557 (Kuehl). This measure would establishe a timber products user
forest restoration fee on timber products sold for consumption in
California. The fee is $0.01 per board foot, square foot, and/or linear
foot on all timber products at the time of sale.
SB 981 (Soto and Romero). The proposed Children s Health and Petroleum
Pollution Remediation Act, would require the refineries to pay a
$0.30/barrel fee for each barrel of crude oil received to pay for diesel
emissions exposure reduction incentive projects, new lower emitting school
buses, and a grant program for the intervention, treatment, and education
of sensitive populations suffering from exposure to petroleum-related air
pollution.
AB 302 (Chan). This measure would require manufacturers of the brominated
flame retardant PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) to pay an unspecified
fee for every gallon sold. It also requires labeling of PBDE and products
containing PBDE.
AB 698 (Lieber). This measure would establish a $10/gallon clean-up fee
on PCE (tetrachloroethelyne or perchloroethelyne) used in the dry cleaning
industry. Funds will be used to assist in corrective actions related to spills.
AB 998 (Lowenthal). This measure would establish a $3/gallon fee on
PCE. The funds will be used for a grant program for dry cleaners to
transition to using non-toxic alternatives to PCE.
AB 1255 (Levine). This measure, the details of which will be forthcoming,
is aimed at requiring automobile makers to take greater responsibility for
managing the environmental impacts of end-of-life vehicles.
AB 1500 (Diaz and Pavley). The proposed Petroleum Pollution Cleanup
Prevention Act of 2003 would require operators of refineries to pay a $1
fee for each barrel of crude oil they receive to fund programs that
directly reduce air contaminants, fund diesel emission reduction programs
including lower emission school buses, and others.
To add a friend or be removed from the Recycling Advocate send an email
to: <mailto:jcarlson@no.address>jcarlson@no.address
Johnnie P. Carlson, II
Executive Assistant
Californians Against Waste
www.cawrecycles.org
(916) 443-5422 voice
(916) 443-3912 fax