This week proved another landmark in Oregon's recycling and waste reduction history. House Bill 2626 passed the Senate with a unanimous vote and now awaits Governor Kulongoski's signature, scheduled for the week of June 4. HB 2626, soon to be called Oregon's E-waste Law, will require manufacturers of televisions, computer monitors, desktops and laptops with diagonal screens larger than 4 inches to provide or pay for recycling services of these items by January 1, 2009.
Section one of HB 2626 states:
(1) It is necessary to encourage the design of electronic devices that are more resource-efficient, more recyclable and less environmentally toxic;(2) The development and availability of a statewide system that conveniently serves both urban and rural areas of Oregon for the collection, transportation and recycling of electronic devices is
in the best interest of the state; and(3) A statewide collection, transportation and recycling system should be financed by the manufacturers of those electronic devices.
Eugene's Register Guard has been following the long road to legislative approval:
"The bill's champion, Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, said she hopes to continue working on the e-waste issue next session by expanding the list of covered items to include such things as printers and scanners."She said this session's overwhelming support for the bill belied its difficult journey to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's desk. She started working on the issue in 2003. That first year, she was able to get only agreement to form a task force to study the issue. In 2005, legislation failed to pass, leading to a work group of various stakeholders that recommended the version that became HB 2626."
You can currently lighten your e-load at a number of electronics drop-offs throughout the state. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality has compiled a list of recyclers in Oregon and beyond who accept computers and electronic equipment.
List of electronics recyclers (pdf)
