Gerardo Dominguez drives a load of disassembled computer and TV monitors for the conveyor belt that relief of metal and plastic to ECS refining in Santa Clara, California, June 3. This month California recycled its book 1 billionth of electronic waste. (Karen t. Borchers, San Jose Mercury News/MCT / June 11, 2011)Mountains of broken TVs, monitors, obsolete and outdated computers laptops that combles packed once in California garages, and basements have taken a step.
State electronic waste recycling program has reached its 1 pound billionth of unwanted electronics. It is more that any other State has recycled - and rises to approximately 20 million televisions and computers kept out of landfills."In the six short years has been exploited in this program, California really got on board with the recycling of electronic waste," said Jeff Hunts, Manager of the program of e-waste for the State Department of resources recycling and recovery. "People understand it is dangerous and must be managed in a responsible manner."
Despite the impressive number, experts say California e-waste efforts still have at least three important gaps.
In the years since California became the first State to adopt a law of e-waste, 24 other States have passed similar laws. But California is still the only State that charges consumers to finance a program of Government-run by paying the costs of recycling whenever they buy a TV, laptop or monitor. Other States are the industry paid to implement recycling programs. Several set quotas for the amount that each company must recycle, based on how many monitors, printers, or other equipment that it sells, with fines for offenders.
Second, the only law California Fund recycling of televisions, computers laptops and computer monitors and requires that they be recycled State. Other devices, such as old VCRs, printers and hard drives, are not covered and sometimes end an increase in the development of countries like China, where the children them separates and the India are exposed to mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxic substances.
"It is admirable that so much material was collected and that he remained out of landfill sites, said Sheila Davis, Executive Director of the Coalition of toxic substances in Silicon Valley, an environmental group of San Jose." But this is only a little baby step to where we need to go. »
California must expand its program and adopt the model of resumption of producer of other States, she said.
"I give California a D program, perhaps a more D.". It is not fair to customers, "said Davis. "And as many books of computers that they have collected, there are an equal number of loopholes for other products that are not properly recycled.
After millions of computers were discarded leading to fear of "y2k", January 1, 2000, ecologists turned the pressure for an act of the State of California.
In 2002, former Senator Byron Sher (Palo Alto - D) of the State has prepared a draft law which would have required consumers to pay a fee when they bought new computers or televisions - similar to the deposit they pay under the State bottle and can recycling right - with the financing of a programme of money laundering.
But the former Governor Gray Davis vetoed, stating: it should be the responsibility of the computer industry.
Sher attempts to negotiate a compromise with Hewlett-Packard Co. and other computer makers, but the talks collapsed. So he pushed through a similar bill on its first and 24 September 2003, face a recall election in two weeks that would drive Office, Davis has signed.
Today, the Act requires that consumers pay costs $ 6 to $ 10, depending on the size of the screen when they buy a new monitor TV, laptop or computer. That the Monetary Fund a State-run program that pays 39 cents a pound to 52 companies recycling and 590 collection agencies, which include private companies and charitable organizations, such as Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army.
"I am perfectly with it," said Brent Anderson, Morgan Hill, California, who was shopping for televisions screens in San Jose.
He said the first time, he met the cost of recycling a few years back, it was a little angry about having to pony up to an additional amount of $10. But, considering that the unit of him and his father, Jim, were Brig imperfection for over $ 700, Anderson thought it was too expensive a bite. After all, he said: "it y much to recycle here.".
While ten years ago people had to discard their old computer in the trash or pay up to $25 each for find a recycler to take, troops of Scouts, civic organizations, and today schools regularly hold fundraisers for old machines request. California program paid 436 million since 2005.
However, after the passage of law of California, retail giants have fought consumer-pay of similar legislation in other States. Environmental groups and the electronics industry today both want a national law but cannot agree on the strict how it should be - or should pay.
"We have to comply with a patchwork of 25 different state requirements." It is a national problem. "He deserves a national approach," said Walter Alcorn, vice President of environmental affairs at the Consumer Electronics Assn., an industry group.
New devices come on the market each year. So even if the State collects about used $ 5 million replace televisions and computers a year, Californians by buying approximately 9 million per year those.
"As with what, you can drive from the back seat, but you have to submit their.". "They got and they have a program started early," said Ken Taggart, vice President, refining ECS, an electronics recycling company in Santa Clara, California "" but it could take a few adjustments and become a program even better.""
Rogers has written for the San Jose Mercury News/McClatchy.
Screenwriter Peter Delevett San Jose Mercury News has contributed to this report.
Source : Click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment