US State Seeks to Legislate Mobile Phone Recycling
New legislation being proposed in the US State of Maine would make promote recycling of mobile phones by mandating that phone retailers have facilities for accepting back unwanted handsets. Rep. Chris Babbidge, D-Kennebunk, submitted the bill with the hope of improving cell phone recycling rates in the state, which already promotes recycling of old computers.
"This legislation is designed to build on retailer take-back systems and expand private sector recycling by requiring retailers to have a system in place, and by promoting consumer notification regarding legal and proper disposal of cell phones," Babbidge said while presenting the bill to the Natural Resources Committee. "There is an immediate need for this legislation."
Babbidge submitted a similar bill in the 122nd Legislature, but a committee compromise called for the Department of Environmental Protection to study the issue. Since that time, New York and California have implemented cell phone recycling programs.
The bill garnered support from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
"The benefits of recycling include the recapture of useable commodities and the prevention of the possible release of hazardous substances to the environment," said Mark Hyland, director of DEP's Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management. "Most discarded cell phones, in fact, can be refurbished and resold. Those that can't are dismantled and the component parts are used in the production of new products or are disposed of properly."
Matt Prindiville, of NRCM, agreed. "Cell phones are an especially problematic part of the waste stream because they contain a large amount of hazardous materials, which can be released in the air when burned in incinerators and leach into soil and drinking water when buried in landfills," Prindiville said.
The committee will hold a work session on the bill in the next few weeks, during which members will make a recommendation to the full Legislature."
Posted to the site on 23rd April 2007