Texas Campaign for the Environment: News
MEDIA RELEASE: March 3, 2010
Governor Perry replies to your letters
Governor Rick Perry replies to a TCE supporter’s letter to his campaign:
Thank you for your letter regarding recycling programs for old electronic equipment, "e-waste."
In the 80th legislative session, Governor Perry signed House Bill 2714, which created a successful program for recycling computer equipment. That bill required computer manufacturers to develop plans to provide consumers opportunities to easily return equipment to the manufacturer for recycling. This legislation provides incentives to manufacturers for accepting equipment from other companies, and specifically prohibits imposing new fees on manufacturers, retailers and recyclers. In fact, in 2009 over 12 million pounds of computer equipment was collected by manufacturers for reuse or recycling as the result of this legislation.
Governor Perry is looking forward to working with the 82nd legislature to create a bill that will encourage voluntary recycling programs for television manufacturers and retailers. Texas has repeatedly proven that wise incentives can accomplish environmental progress with far greater success than burdensome mandates, fee, regulations and extensive reporting requirements.
To learn more about how to recycle your computer equipment, you can visit www.TexasRecyclesComputers.org.
Thank you again for contacting Texans for Rick Perry.
TCE's response:
To his credit, Governor Perry describes the success of the Computer TakeBack bill that he signed into law in 2007. However, the fact remains that he vetoed a very similar bill in 2009 that would have provided TV recycling for Texans as well. In this letter Perry only indicates support for voluntary recycling programs for TVs, stating that mandates and requirements are unnecessary -- just after he praises the effectiveness of the Computer TakeBack law that made it mandatory that manufacturers to offer free recycling! We need Gov. Perry to commit to supporting future legislation making this "producer takeback" recycling for TVs and other electronics mandatory, not voluntary.
