Cell Phone Recycling Bill Signed Into Law

California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB-2901, which requires retailers to take back obsolete cell phones at no cost to the consumers. California is the first state to legislative that requires cellular phones to be recycled.

The Cell Phone Recycling Act makes it unlawful to sell a cellphone in the state after July 1, 2006, unless the retailer has in place a system for collection of used phones for reuse, recycling or proper disposal.

The measure requires all costs associated with the proper management of obsolete cell phones be absorbed by the producers and the consumers at or before purchase, not upon disposal. The producers should reduce and, to the extent possible, ultimately phase out use of hazardous materials in cell phones.