Texas Campaign for the Environment: News
MEDIA RELEASE: January 14, 2010
TV Zombies Demand Secession (From Texas Landfills) at Republican Debate
The first debate in the Republican primary actually started a few minutes early when recycling advocates-turned-TV zombies descended on the debate site. Staff members with Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) dressed as undead televisions and staggered outside the debate moaning “Recycle me,” with signs demanding “Secession from Landfills.” The activists came to highlight a controversial veto issued by Governor Perry at the close of last year’s legislative session and seeking pledges from the candidates to sign a strong TV recycling bill during the next session.
“The bill that Perry recklessly vetoed would’ve provided millions of Texans with free and convenient recycling for their old televisions,” said Jeffrey Jacoby, Program Director at TCE. “These zombies are here today to talk about seceding from Texas landfills. The only way to let them rest in peace is to sign effective TV recycling legislation.”
Old, tube-style televisions usually contain four to eight pounds of lead, among a number of other toxic substances. Following the transition to DTV last summer, activists say many of these older models became obsolete virtually overnight. Some major television manufacturers began free recycling programs on a voluntary basis prior to the transition, and all Best Buy locations began accepting TVs. In his veto message, Governor Perry recommended that the Texas Legislature consider a new TV recycling bill based on these existing voluntary programs.
“We applaud enthusiastically the recycling efforts implemented by the manufacturers and retailers,” said Jacoby. “However, because these voluntary programs don’t exist in many parts of the state, far too many Texans continue to go without accessible TV recycling options—and taxpayers are left holding the bag for the costs.”
House Bill 821, commonly referred to as the Texas TV TakeBack Bill, would have required current television manufacturers to provide consumers with free and convenient recycling for old TVs. According to the non-partisan Legislative Budget Board, the program would not have impacted the state budget since the manufacturers rather than state or local governments would have been responsible for recycling their products.
“I have a feeling these zombie TVs will continue to haunt the governor and all of the candidates throughout the campaign,” Jacoby said, adding, “until they pledge to support effective TV recycling legislation, of course.”
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LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
To find out where each manufacturer has already set up free TV recycling in Texas, go to www.TexasTakeBack.org and click on the individual manufacturer links.
To read the enrolled version of House Bill 821, go to www.legis.state.tx.us and type “HB 821” in the search bar.
To read Perry’s veto message, go to http://governor.state.tx.us/news/veto/12608.
For general information on e-waste as well as the toxic components in typical televisions, go to www.texasenvironment.org and www.electronicstakeback.com.
