State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona will introduce legislation this week to manage electronic waste. This bill complements one recently signed in Minnesota and others in several other states that are either introduced or already enacted.
~The following is taken from a memo by Sen. Miller that discusses Electronic Waste Legislation LRB-3058 ~
This bill requires manufacturers of video display devices sold in Wisconsin to assume responsibility for the collection and proper disposal of electronic devices. This bill is modeled after similar legislation recently adopted in Minnesota. It establishes recycling quotas based on market share and allows for the sale or banking of recycling credits that exceed these goals. The bill provides an additional incentive to recover electronic devices from rural counties.
Electronic waste (E – Waste) is the fastest growing component of waste generated in the United States today. The FCC-mandated transition to a new digital television standard in February 2009 will dramatically increase the amount of E-Waste requiring disposal. The disposal of electronic equipment at the end of its service life poses significant health hazards if not done carefully. Health hazards include cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium and brominated flame retardants.
In Wisconsin, an estimated 10,000 tons of computer monitors and 24,000 tons of televisions were landfilled in 2002.
A significant computer recycling industry has emerged in Wisconsin in response to our current ban on businesses disposing computers in landfills. This bill would create additional markets for new electronic recycling enterprises by adding consumer electronics to the landfill ban.
In short, this bill:
- Protects health and the environment
- Saves landfill space (property tax dollars)
- Is necessary for the expected spike in discarded electronics as we approach the February 2009 digital mandate
- Is simple and consistent with neighboring Minnesota provides market-based incentives to manufacturers
Minnesota, California, Maine, Vermont and Virginia have all recently enacted E-Waste laws. To date, E-Waste legislation has been introduced in the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont.
We anticipate an Assembly Companion Bill.
Here is a link to a recent article in the Wisconsin State journal about E-Waste: