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COUNTY OF SAN MATEOInter-Departmental Correspondence |
County Manager's Office |
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DATE: |
June 10, 2003 |
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BOARD MEETING DATE: |
June 17, 2003 |
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TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors |
FROM: |
John Maltbie, County Manager |
SUBJECT: |
County Manager Report #11-SB 20 (Sher) Hazardous electronic waste recovery, reuse, and recycling |
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Recommendation |
Adopt a resolution in support of SB 20 (Sher) regarding hazardous electronic waste recovery, reuse, and recycling. |
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Background |
In order to sell electronic devices with hazardous substances, the manufacturer must demonstrate to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) that they have implemented a program to recover their e-waste. The program must provide a cost-free and convenient opportunity for consumers to recycle such devices or the manufacturer must effectively pay the CIWMB for the net cost of collection and recycling. In addition, the manufacturer must report its actions and make specified information available to the board, and ensure that the waste is not improperly exported and disposed in other countries. |
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The bill also has recycling targets: 50% by January 2005, 70% by January 2007 and 90% by January 2010. |
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San Mateo County has taken efforts to address the electronic waste problem. E-waste can be recycled in a number of locations throughout San Mateo County including the San Carlos transfer station. None of the County's electronics go "overseas" for disposal/recycling. According to RecycleWorks, there are 5 drop off locations. In 2001 approximately 230 tons of electronics were recycled in the County. |
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The most commonly asked question for RecycleWorks, the County's recycling education program, was where to recycle e-waste. As a result, the County embarked on an educational campaign. The lighted billboard in the hall of 400 County Center is one such example. Last year, the California Resource Recovery Association honored San Mateo County for the County's electronics recycling campaign. With the start of the RecycleWorks e-waste educational campaign, nearly 170 tons were recycled in just the first four months of 2002. |
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Discussion |
According to Californians Against Waste (CAW), sponsors of SB 20, electronic waste (e-waste) encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices-computers, cellular phones and even washers & dryers. CRTs are of a particular concern due to the lead and other materials in the picture tube. CRTs are considered hazardous waste and cannot be dumped in landfills. |
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While environmental groups like the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition argue computers must be designed green, the existing problem of CRTs is growing. According to the Coalition, "computer or television displays (CRTs) contain an average of 4 to 8 pounds of lead each. The 315 million computers that will become obsolete between 1997 and 2004 contain a total of more than 1.2 billion pounds of lead. Monitor glass contains about 20% lead by weight." |
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While it is illegal to put e-waste into landfills (due to the products' hazardous substances), such products find their way. CAW notes that much of the United State's "recycled" e-waste is taken overseas where little regulation exists to protect the environment and workers that harvest some of the more valuable elements while leaving other hazardous waste components to harm the workers and environment. |
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The Legislative Committee and the Board of Supervisors supported SB 1523 (Sher) and SB 1619 (Romero), which were vetoed by the Governor in September 2002. SB 1523 and SB 1619 were bills similar to SB 20. They would have created statewide e-waste recycling programs. In his veto messages, the Governor indicated a preference for a recycling program modeled after the European Union's (EU) program for recycling electronic waste and directed the CalEPA to work with the Legislation in developing such a program. Senator Sher has worked with CalEPA and retasked his bill to model the EU program. |
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SB 20 would preempt local agencies from enacting similar fees. |
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Supervisor Jacobs Gibson supports these bills and recommends support from the Legislative Committee. RecycleWorks recommends support for the bills. |
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Vision Alignment |
Support of SB 20 furthers the County's commitment to preserve our natural environment and supports Goal #14 to preserve and enhance our important natural resources through environmental stewardship. |
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Fiscal Impact |
Passage of SB 20 would have no fiscal impact. |