U.S.: States look for electronics recycling

Frustrated by inaction in Congress, several states trying to reduce the rising tide of televisions, computers and other electronic devices that are thrown away in the country.
Nineteen states have passed laws requiring the recycling of old electronic devices, which contain precious metals such as toxic pollutants and are piling up in garages and closets, or worse, are being thrown overboard. Another 13 states are considering legislation in this regard.
But as these provisions produce the desired state, the electronics industry is lobbying against what it calls a "mosaic" difficult to enforce.
Two organizations that bring together companies, the Association of Consumer Electronics Products and Industry Council of Information Technology are suing the city of New York for its law on recycling, which will make electronics manufacturers collect free devices weighing more than 6.80 kilos (15 pounds). This includes wastes "orphans" produced by manufacturers that have exited the market.

The groups argue that the law, which requires the submission of detailed papers which document the recycling activities, will cost its member companies more than $ 200 million a year.
Parker Brugge, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability in the Association of Consumer Electronic Products, said the state laws impose on manufacturers the burden of recycling plans specific to each state. Her group would prefer a national e-waste law that establishes a uniform policy and extend the responsibility for recycling among companies, consumers and local governments.

Barbara Kyle, national coordinator of the Coalition for Return of Electronic Equipment, a group that promotes recycling of such waste, he believes that what the manufacturers really want a national policy is less strict than state law.
"They talk about how much they want a federal bill, but they want a weak federal bill. They do not want to do what state laws are making them do," he said.

Meanwhile, the amount of electronic waste is increasing. In 2007, Americans threw away 2.04 million metric tons (2.25 million tons) of televisions, computers, cell phones, fax machines, printers and scanners. It is more than double the amount generated in 1999, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.