Sims supports statewide e-waste recycling

Executive calls on State Legislature to enact 'shared responsibility' system

King County Executive Ron Sims today announced his support for state legislation that would establish and finance a statewide collection and recycling system for electronic waste.

Sims said King County is supporting House Bill 2662, introduced today by State Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Snohomish), and Senate Bill 6428, expected to be introduced by State Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-Vancouver). Both bills, which have solid support in the Legislature, would require electronics manufacturers to develop a private sector infrastructure to recycle TVs, computers and monitors in an environmentally sound manner.

"Without statewide legislation to set up and fund a collection and recycling system, local governments will be forced to recycle or dispose of unwanted computers and televisions from residents, small businesses, charities and schools," Sims said. "This is an overwhelming and costly task that many local governments cannot afford."

Last October, King County enacted a ban on the disposal of computers, TVs, monitors and cell phones at its solid waste transfer stations or in garbage and encourages the recycling of these products.

"Although we have established the 'Take it Back Network,' this program only provides the most basic level of service," Sims said. The Take It Back Network is a group of private sector businesses and nonprofit organizations that will recycle electronics for an end-of-life fee.

Electronic waste is unlike other typical recyclables, such as aluminum cans and paper, because it is made of many different types of materials, requires special handling, contains toxic components and is costly to recycle.

"For example, there are very few Take it Back Network members that accept TVs for recycling because they are too hard to handle, require large amounts of storage space, are costly to disassemble and have relatively no value," Sims said.

Income from the recovered materials does not cover the expenses of properly recycling the electronic waste, largely because of the cost of handling toxic components. As a result, recyclers are forced to charge customers an end-of-life fee that many people can't or don't want to pay. This could lead to more illegal dumping or stockpiling of the unwanted equipment.

Sims said the combination of high recycling fees and long travel distances to recycling locations can also discourage the recycling of e-waste materials.

By establishing a statewide electronics recycling system involving the producers and users of products, this legislation provides a solution to the most difficult problems with e-waste recycling.

"This 'shared responsibility' approach will require electronics manufacturers to finance the collection and recycling of computers, monitors and televisions," Sims said. "The manufacturers can build the cost of recycling into the price of their product so that those who benefit from the product pay for the recycling up front when they buy the product."

Manufacturers would also ensure that the equipment is recycled in an environmentally sound manner. Local governments, charities, recyclers and retailers would provide information to the public about recycling locations.

These groups also have the option of serving as collection sites where people can bring their e-waste for recycling and they would be compensated by the manufacturers for providing this service. The old, used equipment would be accepted at the collection sites without an end-of-life fee. State government would provide oversight and enforcement of the system.

"This shared responsibility approach will be convenient for users," Sims said. "It will more effectively remove electronics with toxic components from the disposal stream and return recovered resources back to commerce, creating new jobs, new businesses and new products."

More information on King County's Take it Back program is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/electronics/index.asp on the Internet.

Related Information:

Solid Waste Division

Household Online Materials Exchange

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