FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1498

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 292 L 13

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Improving reports on electronic waste collection.

Sponsors: House Committee on Environment (originally sponsored by Representatives Upthegrove, Short and Ryu).

House Committee on Environment

Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications

Background:

Since 2009 the E-Cycle program has allowed for the recycling of electronic waste at no direct cost to consumers. Electronic products covered by the E-Cycle law include televisions, monitors, computers, laptops, and tablets. Accessories such as computer keyboards are not recyclable through E-Cycle.

Under the E-Cycle law, manufacturers of covered electronic products are required to participate in an electronics recycling program. The E-Cycle law allows for the establishment of multiple electronics recycling programs, should manufacturers choose to develop alternative programs. However, to date, the only electronics recycling program that has been established is operated by the Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority (WMMFA), a public body whose creation was required by the E-Cycle law. The Department of Ecology (DOE) oversees certain WMMFA activities; their role includes the review of program plans and operations, and the enforcement of provisions of the E-Cycle law. Manufacturers fund WMMFA operations through payments based on a combination of each manufacturer's:

To determine the "return share" attributable to each manufacturer participating in the program, the E-Cycle law establishes a sampling mechanism designed to produce statistically significant information regarding the brand names collected for each type of electronic product, the number of electronic products collected by product type, and the weight of electronic products by brand name and product type.

The WMMFA and any other entities which operate electronics recycling programs under the E-Cycle law must file an annual report with the DOE. Among the items that must be included in the annual report are:

Summary:

The WMMFA and other electronic products recycling programs must include certain information as part of the annual report filed with the DOE. The additional information that must be incorporated into the annual report includes:

Votes on Final Passage:

House

94

3

Senate

47

0

Effective:

July 28, 2013