[greenyes] Fwd: NYC E-Waste Bill Introduced

["Marjorie J. Clarke, Ph.D." <mclarke@no.address>]

Yesterday the New York City Council introduced comprehensive electronics 
recycling legislation for the City.

You can check it out on www.whywastenyc.org, the NYC Waste Prevention 
Coalition's website.  Here's the direct link:
http://geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~mclarke/NYC-E-WasteBill-5.25.2005.htm

This bill requires any manufacturer of computers, TVs, portable digital 
music players (e.g., Ipods) and other specified electronic equipment that 
sells such goods in NYC to set-up a free ?take-back? system to collect and 
then recycle or reuse these items.  To continue selling their goods in NYC, 
manufacturers must submit waste management plans to the City?s Sanitation 
Department by 1/1/08 detailing, among other things, how they will collect 
and recycle/reuse the equipment once it is either discarded or is no longer 
wanted by its owner.  The bill covers both residential and commercial e-waste.

The bill does not require any specific collection program be set up ? but 
rather leaves it the manufacturers to design the most efficient 
system.  Manufacturers can set up this ?take-back? program on their own or 
create an industry consortium to satisfy the law.  Manufacturers would also 
be responsible for a ?pro rata? share of NYC  ?orphan 
waste.?   Manufacturers would need to ensure that any collection programs 
meet specified ?performance standards? ? specifically, they would need to 
meet minimum collection rates based upon average annual sales in the 
city.  By 2010, the collection rate would need to 30% of sales; this rate 
rises to 55% by 2015; and 80% by 2018.

To encourage the reuse of electronic equipment, the bill would give 
manufactures double credit in meeting its minimum collection rates for any 
unit either donated to the NYC Education Department or a non-profit 
organization benefiting low-income NYC kids and families.

Thanks to Mark A. Izeman, Senior Attorney, NRDC for the writeup.

If you want to provide support for / comments on the bill, send to Carmen 
Cognetta, infcogne@no.address, with a copy to the Waste Prevention 
coalition:  nycwpcsteering@no.address

Thanks!

Maggie Clarke, Ph.D.
mclarke@no.address
Environmental Scientist and Educator
http://geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~mclarke/index.html
New York City