Electronic Waste Recycling

Recycling is a critical energy-saving and resource conservation strategy.

2009 ACT Legislative Recommendations on Electronic Waste Recycling

Improve upon the foundation of producer takeback legislation passed unanimously in for computers and televisions in 2007:

• Expand the covered electronics to TVs, keyboards and mice
• Expand the covered entities from only consumers and home-based businesses to schools, small local governments, non-profits and small businesses
• Require that manufacturers take care of electronics collected by local governments’ collection programs
• Assure environmentally sound handling of e-waste by banning the landfilling and incineration of electronic waste (as Texas has done for lead-acid batteries, used oil filters and whole tires) and requiring disclosure on any e-waste exported to developing countries
• Increase accountability with better annual reporting to the TCEQ and State Legislature.
• Fund public education to promote the takeback program.

“Build Upon the Foundation of the Computer TakeBack Law” (pdf)

Extend producer takeback recycling to other kinds of products by:

• Establish a framework for future producer takeback recycling policies
  requiring producers of mercury-containing thermostats to provide free and convenient recycling of their products
• Require producers of mercury-containing fluorescent lighting, such as compact fluorescents and tube fluorescents, to provide free and convenient recycling of their products

“Moving Producer TakeBack Beyond Electronics” (pdf)

Support other recycling measures including state government offices and plastic bags

For further information, please contact 2009 ACT Electronic Waste & Recycling Team Leader Robin Schneider (Robin@texasenvironment.org).