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[greenyes] Fwd: E-waste Responsibility advances in CA

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

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485

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