Texas Campaign for the Environment: News
MEDIA RELEASE: May 21, 2008
Legislators, Advocates Say Weak E-Waste Standards Fail to Ensure Responsible Recycling
Austin, TX – Recycling activists and state legislators expressed disappointment in the final rules adopted by the state environmental agency (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ) for the Texas Computer TakeBack Law. At today’s hearing at the Austin TCEQ headquarters, the three commissioners of the agency voted to adopt guidelines to implement the new recycling law, which goes into effect September 1st. While environmental leaders were pleased that the agency did strengthen the rules originally proposed, they say the standards for responsible recycling remain weak and fail to address the dumping of electronic waste on developing countries around the world.
“The word is getting out that many companies which bill themselves as electronic waste recyclers are sham operations and don’t really recycle old electronics – they ship them to developing countries where crude backyard scrap operations can poison entire villages,” said Robin Schneider, Executive Director of the Texas Campaign for the Environment. “Now we are finding out that lead extracted from electronic waste in China appears to be a source of the lead in the lead tainted jewelry being exported to the US. Today, our state environmental agency turned a blind eye to this violation of human rights and international law.”
A bipartisan coalition of over a dozen state legislators sent letters to the three TCEQ commissioners, urging them to adopt stronger recycling rules. Some sent staff members to the hearing to make a final push. State Representative Valinda Bolton gave statements to the commissioners, underscoring the broad public support for environmentally sound recycling.
Photo: Basel Action Network
“My constituents have made it clear to me that they want responsible recycling of electronic waste,” explained Representative Bolton. “I joined with many of my legislative colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ask the state environmental agency to adopt stronger standards.”
Tens of thousands of Texas residents sent letters to environmental agency calling for rules that would ensure electronics collected for recycling won’t end up being dumped in developing countries. Texas Campaign for the Environment displayed some of the more than 69,000 signatures of Texas residents backing strong recycling standards. In addition, responsible electronics recyclers and some computer manufacturers urged the agency to adopt stronger rules.
The “producer takeback” recycling programs must be in operation by September 1, 2008, or retailers and producers cannot sell their products in Texas. Environmental leaders anticipate that more lawmakers will weigh in during the next legislative session.
Photo: Basel Action Network
“Texans don’t want the export of hazardous electronic waste to be on their conscience,” said Ms. Schneider. “Computer makers must tell consumers exactly what happens with the electronic waste they collect from us. In addition, the State Legislature will have to clarify in the 2009 legislative session that Texas won’t tolerate irresponsible sham recycling that poisons people.”
# # # # #
