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Electronic Waste Recycling Act | Electronic Waste Recycling Act |
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The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (EWRA) is a California law to reduce the use of certain hazardous substances in certain electronic equipment sold in the state of California. The act was signed into law September 2003.
All CRT, LCD, and plasma display devices contained in televisions, computers, and other electronic equipment with a screen size over 4 inches (10 cm) measured diagonally are covered by the act. After January 1, 2007 these devices may not contain greater than the allowed concentrations of any of these four materials (by weight), which must be followed by manufacturers if they wish to sell their electronic products in California: Cadmium: 0.01% Hexavalent chromium: 0.1% Lead: 0.1% Mercury: 0.1% The act also defines the collection of the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (effective January 1, 2005) upon purchase of covered devices and the distribution of payments to entities involved in electronic waste management. Their are only about 8 states in the United states that have programs and laws on electronic waste recycling. New Jersey is the most recent state to develop their Electronic Waste Recycling Act that will go in effect Jan. 1, 2009. More states need laws to help reduce the pollution of e-waste into our environment in which we live. Not only to control improper means of electronic equipment disposal, but controlling the amount of toxic materials used to create electronic devices. Would you want your child to play on a computer if you knew it had high concentrations of lead and mercury? The responsible parent would obviously answer no. Write your house representatives, senators, governors, and mayors to request laws to be established for electronic equipment disposal. |