Dive summary:
- New legislation has passed unanimously out of the Texas House Environmental Regulation Committee that limits computer and television recycling to only certified third-party recyclers.
- The bill is intended to help cut down the number of electronics sent overseas and encourage viable in-state recycling.
- Currently, 56% of electronic manufactures have not indicated any standards to e-waste recycling, keep no record if and where products are recycled or if the recyclers are certified.
From the press release:
The bill is part of a comprehensive legislative push by Texas Campaign for the Environment to improve the state’s e-waste laws. Currently 56% of manufacturers reporting under the state’s TV and computer recycling laws do not identify their recyclers and have not indicated any standards or expectations that these companies be certified. Non-certified recyclers have been implicated in the practice of export dumping, whereby electronics and other toxic wastes are sent to developing countries where crude scrap operations often controlled by organized crime dismantle the products in unsafe conditions.
“I have seen the e-waste dumps in Ghana, and the air is so toxic, you can taste the metals in your mouth,” Schneider said. “You can see the dead looks in these sick and exploited children’s eyes. HB 3465 is a significant step towards keeping Texas’ e-waste out of these awful operations.” ...