Information technology has improved exponentially over the past few decades. Computers have become smaller, faster, cheaper, and more accessible; and as they do, their predecessors become obsolete. These old systems end up in attics, closets, basements, garages… and landfills. They are joined by obsolete cell phones, old stereos, and outdated TVs. Once in the landfill, these products can leach toxic heavy metals like lead and mercury. These discarded electronic products pose a formidable environmental challenge to our communities. We must have a way to safely reuse, recycle, and dispose of electronic waste.

States have adopted many different strategies to deal with electronic waste. Listed below are state bills that have been introduced, organized by type of bill. The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and the Computer Take Back Campaign both have lists of state actions as well.

Producer Responsibility

California
SB 20 requires manufacturers (or their designees) to develop, finance and implement an “e-waste recovery system” for the collection, handling, transportation, processing, recovery, reuse, and recycling of the devices sold by that producer. Manufacturers would have the option of foregoing collection and recycling by instead paying a fee to cover the full cost of collection and recycling on every device sold.
Status: Passed Senate, in Assembly Committee 6/30/03

Maine
LD 743 protects public health and the environment through the collection and recycling of electronic waste. The bill would make computer manufacturers responsible for financing and developing an environmentally sound collection and recycling system for e-waste.
Status: In Committee 2/03

LD1105 proposed to establish a program under which used or obsolete electronic equipment accompanied by the purchase receipt can be returned to the place of purchase for recycling in lieu of disposal of such items at municipal waste facilities.
Status: Died in Committee 3/15/01

Minnesota
H.F No. 882 prohibits the placement in mixed municipal solid waste of electronic products with cathode ray tubes and establishes a process for a list of electronic products complying with certain standards for recovery and recycling. Requires manufacturers to establish recycling programs.
Status: Introduced 3/13/03

New York
A6286 establishes extended product responsibility for the disposition of waste electronic equipment identified as hazardous by the commissioner and requires the establishment of collection centers for such equipment.
Status: Referred to committee 2/20/02

Rhode Island
H 5783 and H 5829 would create the electronic waste producer responsibility act designed to regulate the disposal of electronic waste.
Status: In Committee 2/03

S 234 would prohibit the sale of cathode ray tubes until manufacturers establish collection system for old CRTs.
Status: In Committee 2/03

Washington
HB 1942
Introduced 2/2003 by Representative Mike Cooper (D)
The bill would make computer manufacturers responsible for financing and developing an environmentally sound collection and recycling system for e-waste. This bill provides no-charge, end-of-life recycling options for businesses and residents. Electronic products covered by the bill are computers, monitors, cell phones, laptops, peripheral, televisions and hand held computers. HB 1942 would ban landfilling of certain e-waste by the year 2007 and discourages the export of e-waste.
Status: In committee 2/03

The Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation website has the full text, a summary, and their press release.

Landfill Bans

Maine
LD 590 bans the disposal of cathode ray tubes in landfills and incinerators.
Status: In Committee 2/03

Maryland
HB911 would have prohibited any person from disposing of a cathode ray tube from a computer monitor or television in any location not designated by the Department of the Environment for the management and recycling of used CRTs. It would have also prohibited any sanitary landfill, solid waste transfer station, or incinerator from accepting a CRT and require the Office of Recycling to develop a method for the management and recycling of used CRTs.
Status: In Committee 2/03

Michigan
H 4296 prohibits the disposal of products containing cathode ray tubes in landfills.
Status: In committee 2/03

Oklahoma
HB1155 prohibits the disposal of items containing cathode ray tubes in any landfill or solid waste disposal facility. It would require the state's environmental board to promulgate rules concerning the recycling or handling of cathode ray tubes.
Status: In House Rules Committee as of 2/12/02

Pennsylvania
HB2206 prohibits the disposal of cathode ray tubes and sets guidelines for the recycling of cathode ray tubes by vendors.
Status: Referred to Environmental Resources and Energy Committee 12/4/01

State Agency Recycling Programs

Arkansas
SB807 requires state agencies to develop plans to sell, reuse, recycle or dispose of their old computers. It also creates a recycling fund that awards grants to recycling programs. May ban landfill disposal of computers starting 2005.
Status: Enacted 4/9/01

Tax Credits for Recycling

Arizona
Statute 43-1076 offers tax credits equal to 10 percent of the installed cost for recycling equipment to both individuals and corporations. The equipment must be in service for the owner to receive the credit. The amount is limited to the lesser of 25 percent of the total tax revenue or $5000.

Computer Recycling Councils or Studies

Florida
SB1922 would have directed the state environmental agency to conduct a comprehensive authoritative review of end-of-life electronics waste stream and would have provided for a report & recommendations.
Status: Died in Committee 3/22/02

Georgia
HB2 created the Computer Equipment Disposal and Recycling Council, which investigates problems and concerns related to the disposal and recycling of computer equipment, develops and assists in the establishment of pilot programs, issues reports of its findings and recommendations, and advises the General Assembly and state agencies.
Status: Enacted 5/14/02

New Hampshire
LSR 141/HB 73 establishes a committee to study imposing a recycling fee on new computer purchases.
Status: In Committee.

New York
A10146 enacts the Electronic Equipment Recycling Act; establishes an electronic equipment recycling program within the Department of Environmental Conservation to develop and implement the most efficient means of collecting, storing, transporting, processing and recycling electronic equipment which contain hazardous materials; provides grants for development of electronic equipment recycling programs.
Status: In Assembly 6/02

Fee Programs

California
SB1523 would establish a state program to recycle cathode ray tube (CRT) devices such as computer monitors and television sets. Under the bill, all CRT retailers would have to impose a $10 fee on consumers that would go toward funding the recycling program.
Status: Enacted 8/31/02, vetoed by Gov. 9/30/02

Connecticut
H 6269 establishes a recycling program for electronic devices that contain cathode ray tubes, imposes a fee of $10 on the sale of CRTs.
Status: In Committee 1/03

Florida
S 674 creates a program for responsible disposal of certain electronic products and components; prohibits certain methods of disposal of such products and components; provides for a funding program; provides for fees for sales of components and for a surcharge on waste disposal.
Status: In Committee 3/03

Hawaii
HB1283 would establish an advanced disposal fee of an undetermined amount to be paid by manufacturers and importers of computers. They would also be required to register and maintain records of the manufacture, import, and/or export of their computers. Allows individuals to file a tax credit on their income taxes for donating computers to the county computer recovery program. In addition, all county computer recovery programs will include an incentive or 'buy back' program for old computers from the public and private individuals.
Status: Held in Committee, 2002

Nebraska
LB644 creates the Electronic Equipment Recycling Act in order to encourage development of electronic equipment recycling businesses, increase public awareness about such recycling, and decrease the amount of electronic equipment that is disposed of in landfills. The program established by the DEQ would be funded by a fee of $5 on the sale of all new televisions and computer monitors. The fees will also be used for public education, and grants and loans to local governments, solid waste facility operators, and electronic equipment recycling businesses. Under LB 644, effective January 1, 2004, a ban would go into effect barring the disposal of electronic equipment in landfills.
Status: Died at the end of session.

LB 301 creates the Electronic Equipment Recycling Act. The purpose of the bill is to establish a statewide electronic equipment recycling system to encourage the development of electronic equipment recycling businesses, increase public awareness about electronic equipment recycling, decrease the amount of electronic equipment that is disposed of in landfills. A fee of $10 will be assessed on the sale of all new televisions and computer monitors beginning October 1, 2003. Under LB 301, a ban would go into effect January 1, 2005, barring the disposal of electronic equipment in landfills.
Status: In Committee

New York
A 5302 imposes a $10 fee upon the retail sale of cathode ray tubes; prohibits the disposal and the acceptance for disposal of cathode ray tubes in mixed solid waste; imposes civil penalties for violations of such provisions; provides that all fees and civil penalties collected pursuant to such act shall be deposited in the solid waste account of the environmental protection fund for use in electronic equipment recycling programs.
Status: In committee 2/2003

North Carolina
S1255 and H1565 would impose a privilege tax (state sales tax) on retailers for each new CRT that is sold by the retailer, and an excise tax (state use tax) on new CRTs purchased outside the state for the storage, use, or consumption of CRTs in the state. The rate for both taxes is $10. CRTs would be banned from landfills. Funds from the tax would reimburse local government recycling efforts and fund grants to research and new recycling programs.
Status of S1255: Referred to Committee on Finance 6/6/02
Status of H1565: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 6/6/02

Oregon
HB3301 would have directed the Environmental Quality Commission to develop programs that encourage recycling of personal computers by requiring the registration and payment of a fee at the time of purchase of personal computers and creating the Personal Computer Recycling Account. The fees paid at the time of purchase would have been dedicated to an account and would allow a person to apply for a refund of part of the fee when recycling a personal computer.
Status: Died in House Ways and Means Committee 7/07/01

South Carolina
SB148 establishes an Electronic Equipment Recycling Fund and corresponding program. A $5 fee for each item that contains a cathode ray tube goes to the Recycling Fund.
Status: Joint resolution, in committee 1/2003

Recycling Programs

California
SB1619 would set up a program to recover, re-use and recycle what it defines as hazardous electronic scrap, which includes everything from computers to video monitors to notebook personal computers. Under this bill, manufacturers would have to label these devices as hazardous and would set up a system to either take back obsolete devices or pay a fee to the state.
Status: Enacted 8/30/02, vetoed by Gov. 9/30/02

Hawaii
Currently being considered in the legislature, SB 29 directs department of health to adopt rules to establish a cathode ray tube recycling program by 2008, after which it would be illegal to dispose of CRT's in a landfill.
Status: Passed out of Energy and Environment Committee

Minnesota
Companion bills HF2815 and SF2979 set waste electronic products recovery and recycling requirements and prohibit landfill disposal starting in 2004.
Status: SF2979 is in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee as of 2/11/02; HF2815 in Rules Committee as of 3/7/02

Mississippi
S 2398 - An act to provide a program for the recycling and disposal of computer and electronic solid waste; to require each state agency to implement such program; to provide for the sale or donation of such equipment; to create a computer and electronic recycling fund; to provide for the disbursement of fund proceeds.
Status: Died in committee 2/03

New York
S 890 and A 3633
Enact the “electronic equipment recycling act”; establishes an electronic equipment recycling program within the department of environmental conservation to develop and implement the most efficient means of collecting, storing, transporting, processing and recycling electronic equipment which contain hazardous materials; provides assistance for development of electronic equipment recycling programs through the department of environmental conservation and the office of waste prevention services; prohibits the discarding of cathode ray tubes in landfills; imposes civil penalties for violations of such provisions; provides all penalties collected pursuant to such act shall be deposited in the environmental protection fund for use in implementing the provisions of this act.
Status: Both in committee 2/2003

Virginia
H 2376 requires the Virginia Waste Management Board to adopt regulations to encourage cathode ray tube and electronics recycling. The bill also authorizes localities to prohibit the disposal of cathode ray tubes in any privately operated landfill within its jurisdiction, so long as the locality has implemented a recycling program that is capable of handling all cathode ray tubes generated within the jurisdiction
Status: Passed both Senate and House 2/03

Definitions

California
AB 1174 would define “electronic waste” for the purposes of California Integrated Waste Management Board provisions.
Status: First read 2/03

Idaho
S1416 adds computer monitors to the definition of “special waste” or those wastes that require special treatment or handling after it arrives at the disposal site. The term currently includes asbestos containing material, petroleum contaminated soils, low-level PCB containing material, computer monitors, low-level dioxin containing material and uncut tires.
Status: Sent to Committee 2/12/02

Illinois
H 983 amends the Environmental Protection Act; adds personal computers to the definition of “white goods” and cathode ray tubes containing lead to the definition of “white good components”.
Status: In Committee 3/01

Educational

Colorado
HB01-0116 creates a .5 FTE to focus on educating people about why they should recycle CRTs and where to recycle. It also helps promote and expand the recycling industry in Colorado.
Status: Signed by governor 6/6/2001

New Jersey
A607 encourages the recycling, reuse or proper disposal of used computers monitors and television sets.
Status: Enacted 10/02

Utah
H 67 would establish an educational initiative that meets certain requirements and to monitor federal and state activities.
Status: Failed to pass 01/03

Other

California
SB 20 states the intent of the Legislature to ensure that funds are available to assist cities, counties, and recyclers of electronic wastes in developing programs to safely collect and recycle the hazardous materials contained in electronic wastes, and to promote the refurbishment and reuse of electronic equipment for use by schools and nonprofit agencies.

Kansas
HB 2915 would have directed the Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to participate in national and regional partnerships of governments and businesses to promote environmentally responsible ways to produce, use, and dispose of consumer products, especially consumer electronic equipment. This would include efforts to reduce energy and materials used in production, toxic components of the products, and the amount of waste generated by consumer product disposal.
Status: Died in Committee 5/31/02

Banning Disposable Cell Phones

New Jersey
A2550 prohibits the disposal of used cellular telephones as solid waste.
Status: Introduced 6/02

New York
A3770 prohibits the sale of disposable cellular telephones and imposes a civil penalty of not more than $250 for a violation of such provisions.
Status: Referred to consumer affairs and protection 2/03

A3075 and S 903 would require every business engaged in the retail sale of disposable cellular telephones to accept, at no charge, used models of such telephone for recycling or reuse subject to the regulations of the commissioner of environmental conservation; prohibits any person from disposing of or incinerating a disposable cellular telephone.
Status: Referred to consumer affairs and protection 2/03