An assembly bill to boost the recycling of cellular phones is slated to go before the California State Assembly this week. The bill is slated to be voted May 27th. The bill already has passed the Assembly Natural Resources, Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials, and the Assembly Appropriations committees.
The bill, AB 2901, is sponsored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D). If passed, the bill would require cell phone retailers to provide take-back opportunities for used cell phones.
In its present form the bill would enact the Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004, making it unlawful to sell, on and after July 1, 2005, a cell phone in California unless the retailer complies with the act.
The bill would require a retailer selling a cell phone in the state to have in place, by July 1, 2005, a system for the acceptance, collection, reuse, and recycling or proper disposal of used cell phones. The bill would require the system to include specified elements.
Additionally, the bill would require that by July 1, 2006 retailers submit a report to the California Integrated Waste Management Board that would include the number of cell phones sold by the retailer in this state during the previous calendar year and other information in any notification submitted to the department pursuant to regulations for universal waste handlers in existence on January 1, 2005.
A retailer would also be required to make information available to consumers that describes where and how to return, recycle, and dispose of the cell phone and opportunities and locations for the collection or return of the cell phone, through specified means.
The bill would require the board on and after July 1, 2006, and every 3 years thereafter, to annually establish and update, as necessary, statewide used cell phone recycling goals .