NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

SENATE VOTES GREEN ON STATEWIDE
ELECTRONIC RECYCLING PROGRAM

SPRINGFIELD, IL - State Senator Susan Garrett (D–Lake Forest) passed legislation this week to establish a statewide electronic product recycling and reuse program to be administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Senate Bill 2313 includes several measures that will provide an opportunity for Illinois consumers and businesses to go green. The legislation creates statewide goals for recycling and reuse of electronic devices. The legislation also bans the disposal of electronic devices covered by the Act in landfills or by burning beginning in the year 2012.

Many electronic products contain materials that pose environmental and health risks, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and others. “The harm is that many computers, printers, and cell phones have toxic components, and when you put those toxic components into landfills they leach into the land and air,” said Senator Garrett, Chair of the Senate’s Public Health Committee.

“Not only is this legislation good for the environment, it is good for the Illinois economy,” said Garrett. According to the Illinois Recycling Economic Information Study of 2001, the total economic impact of the establishment of a statewide recycling and reuse program for residential electronic products is estimated at nearly 4,000 jobs created and $740 million in annual receipts.

“When everyone can come together to address serious policy issues such as the welfare of the environment, we can find solutions,” said Garrett. “We all can agree that we should be good stewards of the environment and because of that everyone should do their part to ensure this program is effective.”

Some electronics manufacturers currently have effective recycling programs in place, but many others do not. In addition, global trade allows for the shipment of e-waste to other countries. Some of this waste finds its way to China or Africa, where it is burned to extract the copper, gold, and aluminum. The remainder may end up in a landfill or garbage dump, or simply disposed of in a water source. This process creates serious environmental health hazards for the people who breath the air and drink the water in these areas.

Under the program instituted by SB 2313, television, computer, and computer monitor manufacturers will be responsible for recycling or processing for reuse a quantity of electronic devices determined by using a formula based on their market share. Retailers will be responsible for informing the public about the statewide program and about opportunities for collection of electrical devices.

The program creates recycling goals for manufacturers based on consumer participation. Collection points will be located throughout the state to allow citizens easy access to the program. Additional credits will be given to manufacturers to encourage participation and flexible options in reaching their goals. Manufacturers will receive two-for-one credits for collection of products in rural areas. Two-for-one credits are also available for manufacturers who refurbish products that are collected. If a manufacturer chooses to donate the primary products of the program to schools, the disabled, or underserved communities, they will receive a three-for-one credit.

“Whenever I hold town hall meetings, I ask members of the audience how many of them have drawers full of unused and old cell phones. It never fails that almost 100% of the audience raises their hands. It is obvious that people have a backlog of not only cell phones but old computers and monitors that need to be recycled,” Garrett pointed out. “This bill will be good for Illinois consumers while at the same time helping to protect the global environment.”

Senate Bill 2313 now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.