NY Assemblyman Calls for Action

Speaking at the 68^th Precinct Community Council meeting Oct. 21, Colton, who chairs the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management, said, “The State of California, working with the electronics industry, has passed major legislation regulating the disposal of electronic equipment. I want to see New York State do the same.”

Colton sponsored the Electronics Equipment Recycling Act, or A.3633, a bill that passed the Assembly earlier this year. Colton has been working with Sen. Carl Marcellino, who introduced the act in the New York State Senate, on the issue.

Colton’s bill would specifically address pollution risks posed by cathode-ray tubes found in computer monitors and televisions. CRT disposal would be prohibited in mixed solid waste or any non-hazardous solid waste management facility beginning Jan. 1, 2003. The bill would also establish and electronic equipment recycling program to be funded though the Environmental Protection Fund and enforcement provisions for violations.

Colton has held a series of roundtable discussions with electronics recyclers, manufacturers, state and local governments, environmental groups and academia to examine the applicability of present regulatory and assistance programs for electronics waste and recycling and to discuss policy direction in New York State.