Texas Campaign for the Environment: Victories 2008
During the summer of 2008, TCE organizers fanned across East Texas to generate pressure on federal lawmakers concerning toxic e-waste export. In October, working with TCE and our allies, U.S. Representative Gene Green (Houston) and Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) introduced resolutions (H.Res. 1395 and S.Res. 663) that call for the U.S. to join other nations in banning the export of e-waste to developing countries.
news: Resolution Would Ban E-waste Exports to Developing Countries (Portsmouth Herald News)
After months of public pressure and thousands of letters from TCE supporters, Samsung becomes the third television manufacturer to begin offering free, nationwide recycling for its obsolete products in September of 2008. Samsung is the market leader in new TV sales and the only major television producer with a manufacturing presence in Texas.
news: Electronics, Cradle Toward Cradle (Daily Green News)
After receiving thousands of letters and postcards from TCE supporters, LG/Zenith becomes the second television maker to announce a free, nationwide recycling program in August of 2008.
news: LG and WMI Partner to Tackle E-Waste (Greener Computing)
On September 1, 2008, Texas became only the fourth state in the nation to implement a Producer TakeBack Recycling law for obsolete computers. All computer makers selling products in Texas must now offer free, convenient recycling programs for their products. The state environmental agency launched a new website to help residents use the new recycling programs, www.TexasRecyclesComputers.org
news: Computer Makers Responsible for Recycling (San Antonio Express-News)
As the City of Austin works to develop a regional Zero Waste plan, TCE raised a host of concerns about environmental studies to build a huge new landfill in Eastern Travis County. On March 18, the Austin City Council removed an agenda item to spend thousands more dollars to do more detailed environmental studies on this proposal.
news: TCE Lauds Austin City Council for Dropping Webberville Landfill (TCE Press Release)
TCE drafted resolutions on producer takeback recycling, landfill and broader recycling issues passed at March 4 precinct conventions in Dallas, Williamson, Tarrant, Travis, Ellis, Refugio and Denton Counties. Activists will press county, senate district and state conventions to pass resolutions.
In January 2008, TCE received word that the three Commissioners of the state environmental agency would have a hearing and decide whether to overturn a decision by their Executive Director Glenn Shankle which would allow the City of Port Arthur to use toxic waste as an alternative daily cover on the City's landfill. The toxic materials made by Newpark Resources is a combination of oil drilling waste and coal plant waste and is too toxic to be put in the landfill as waste. TCE and the local Port Arthur environmental justice group Community In-power and Development Association filed a Motion to Overturn the Executive Director's decision, which was ultimately successful.
news: City denied use of questionable substance to cover landfill (Port Arthur News)
