Washington State Bill Looks at E-Scrap Recycling

The bill, SB 6428, was introduced into the Senate on Jan. 12, and had more than 30 sponsors. After receiving a first hearing the bill was referred to the Committee on Water, Energy & Environment.

The bill aims to boost the recycling of electronic scrap through a manufacturer-financed program. The bill notes that the responsibility for the collection and recycling of electronic scrap “must be shared among all stakeholders, with manufacturers financing the collection, transportation, and recycling system.

The bill notes that a manufacturer, whose covered electronic products are offered for sale in or into the state must participate in an independent plan or the standard plan to implement and finance the collection, transportation, and recycling of its equivalent share of covered electronic products.

An independent plan or the standard plan must be implemented and fully operational no later than January 1, 2009.

The manufacturers participating in an approved plan are responsible for covering all administrative and operational costs associated with the collection, transportation, and recycling of their plan's equivalent share of covered electronic products. If costs are passed on to consumers, it must be done without any fees at the time the unwanted electronic product is delivered or collected for recycling.

Manufacturers are encouraged to collaborate with electronic product retailers, certificated waste haulers, processors, recyclers, charities, and local governments in the development and implementation of their plans.

Opponents of the bill include manufacturers of the electronic goods, who feel that the onus and cost of the project would fall on them.