Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environment Committee |
HB 1226
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. |
Brief Description: Improving the convenience of electronic waste collection.
Sponsors: Representatives Pike, Peterson, Manweller, Goodman, Vick, Griffey, Muri and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date:
Staff: Jacob Lipson (786-7196).
Background:
Since 2009 the electronic waste recycling program ("E-Cycle") 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 WMMFA must devise and implement a standard plan for collecting, transporting, and recycling the electronic products of its participating manufacturers. Collection services for covered electronic products must be reasonably convenient and available to urban and rural residents, and must provide collection in each county, and in each city with a population of at least 10,000. Collection sites must be staffed, open to the public with a frequency adequate to serve an area's collection needs, and may be located at a variety of public, private, and non-profit sites. Instead of or in addition to collection sites, the WMMFA and other programs may provide alternate collection services such as curbside services, if those services provide equal or better convenience and increase electronic waste recovery. The WMMFA and other programs are neither obligated to nor precluded from compensating collectors for collection costs from premium or curbside collection services.
The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) supervises and regulates private solid waste companies, including reviewing and approving their rates and fees. Cities and towns also sometimes provide solid waste collection services.
Summary of Bill:
The Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority (WMMFA) and other electronic recycling programs must provide curbside collection services where curbside recycling is already provided by a solid waste collection company regulated by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). The programs must also provide alternate collection services if including those services would increase electronic waste recovery or provide equal or better convenience to citizens.
The WMMFA and other electronic recycling programs must compensate collectors for curbside and premium collection services.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.