Press Release

Reps. Thompson, Bono, Slaughter, and Wamp Host Unprecedented Forum to Discuss E-Waste Solutions

Electronic Manufacturers and Retailers, Recyclers, Environmentalists and State Officials Explore Options for Safely Disposing Dangerous Electronic Waste

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 13, 2006

WASHINGTON-Today, the bipartisan Congressional E-Waste Working Group will bring together some of the nation’s largest e-waste stakeholders to develop a solution to the growing problem of obsolete electronics disposal. The participants, who represent electronic manufacturers and retailers, recyclers, environmental groups and state officials, will be discussing what role the federal government can play to mitigate e-waste’s harmful effects and how to distribute responsibility for disposal.

The Congressional E-Waste Working Group, which includes Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-01), Mary Bono (CA-45), Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Zach Wamp (TN-03), was formed in 2005 to explore options to the problem of e-waste. The group invited stakeholders to Capitol Hill to discuss potential solutions.

Rep. Mike Thompson said: “The problem e-waste poses to the environment and our health is clear, and it is encouraging that many groups are actively working toward a solution. However, rather than having a patchwork of state regulations and individual company policies, a federal solution may be a more effective approach. By bringing these groups together to sort through the options, we’ll be a lot closer to finding a realistic way of decreasing the amount of e-waste ending up in our landfills.”

Rep. Mary Bono said: "Our environment deserves a solution to the ever-expanding technological market and the dramatic increases in e-waste. The federal government recognizes the need to address e-waste concerns and this working group will collectively examine, with stakeholders, the best ways to establish a national policy and define the scope of national effort."

Rep. Louise Slaughter said: “We’re coming together to produce clear and consistent e-waste guidelines. Developing a national plan is critical if we want to protect our environment and the vitality of electronics manufacturers. If we don't respond to e-waste now, U.S. businesses will be put at a competitive disadvantage, while the consequences to the environment will grow more severe.”

Rep. Zach Wamp said: “An East Tennessee company, ‘Five R,’ has recycled and refurbished parts from old computers, fax machines, photocopiers and other electronics so that they aren’t wasted or taking up space in landfills. And, the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge is involved with a program to refurbish old radiation detection equipment. We have experience to offer other states to address the growing problem of e-waste.”

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that 100 million electronic devices become obsolete each year. The degradation of these devices can release toxic materials into the environment. E-waste now accounts for more than 40 percent of the lead and 70 percent of the metals in U.S. landfills.

Groups represented at today’s meeting include Best Buy, Consumer Electronic Association, Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition, Dell Inc., Electronic Industries Alliance, Electronic Waste Recycling Program - California, Goodwill Industries International, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, International Scrap Recycling, Kodak, National Recycling Coalition, Panasonic, Product Stewardship Institute Inc., Washington State Department of Ecology, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Sony Electronics and CTIA, The Wireless Association.

ONLINE VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE:
http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=94