WASHINGTON (AP) - Trash talk comes to Capitol Hill Wednesday at a hearing on
the disposal and recycling of computers, televisions, cell phones and other
scrapped consumer electronic products.
The House Science and Technology Committee will also review potential
research and development benefits of designing more environmentally friendly
equipment to decrease the use of toxic materials and to make recycling easier.
While there is no specific U.S. law or regulation governing how consumers
toss their electronics, 13 states have "e-waste" laws designed to address lead,
mercury and other toxic materials potentially in such products, according to the
committee. The consumer electronics industry wants a national law or framework
to replace the patchwork of state regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 2 million tons of
used consumer electronics were discarded in 2005, the latest year such data was
available. Of that waste, between 15 and 20 percent were recycled or reused
while the remaining products ended up primarily in landfills, according to the
agency.
The U.S. lags behind other nations in dealing with e-waste, according to the
committee's findings. Eight years ago, the European Union began banning the
disposal of electronic waste in landfills and requiring manufacturers to take
back their used products.
Many computer companies, including Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Apple
Inc., have some type of take-back program, while Sony Electronics Inc. is the
only TV maker with such an initiative, said Barbara Kyle, national coordinator
of the Electronics Take-Back Coalition, which is seeking to improve U.S.
electronic recycling programs.
But she said the programs vary in scope, size and cost. For example, Dell
accepts its branded products for free nationwide, but other may charge a fee.
"It has to be free for consumers or they won't do it," she said.
Kyle said recycling should be the responsibility of the electronics
manufacturers, retailers, such as Circuit City Stores Inc. and Best Buy Co.,
should help with the collection of used products, especially TV sets, to make it
easier.
Renee St. Denis, director of HP's recycling program, and Michael Williams,
executive vice president and general counsel for Sony Electronics, a U.S.
business of Sony Corp., are scheduled to testify.
Other witnesses include: Gerardo Castro, contracts and environmental
services director of Goodwill Industries in southern California; Eric Harris,
government and international affairs director for the Institute of Scrap
Recycling Industries; Ted Smith, who is chair of the Electronics Take-Back
Coalition; and Arizona State University Professor Eric Williams.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|