By Ted Fischer
September 12, 2005

The House Energy and Commerce Committee met July 28 to discuss efforts to recycle electronics, or e-waste, within America's waste stream.

"E-Waste and discarded electronic products is the quickest growth in America's landfills with over 2 million tons discarded yearly," said Representative Louise Slaughter (NY). "Heavy metals including Mercury are being discarded at a rapid rate. The European Union (EU) is meeting on E-Waste in August and America has yet to make a concentrated effort on this problem. I don't want to watch a patchwork of laws determine the outcome of electronic waste recycling," she continued.

Joining Slaughter was Representative Mike Thompson (CA) who said, "26 States are currently looking at legislation on electronic recycling, a patchwork of solutions is not needed but I am thankful that this committee has taken the time to look into legislation on a federal level. Steps need to be taken now to eliminate a problem that is building faster then we can manage it. Each day electronic products are becoming smaller and lighter, but they are also creating an ever-growing environmental and waste disposal problem."

"Today the average lifespan of a computer is only two years and Americans are disposing of 3,000 tons of computers each day. Without a national recycling infrastructure consumers and businesses are left with few alternatives for getting rid of their old computers and electronics. This hearing is an important first step in addressing this growing problem. The E-waste Working Group will continue to work with the committee to investigate the problem and look for a common sense national solution," the Congressman said.

Many other congressmen in attendance echoed the comments made by Slaughter and Thompson in the need for federal reform of electronic waste recycling.

Representative Paul Gillmor (OH) chaired the committee hearing. Panelists included representatives for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, and from the state environmental services departments of Maine, California and Maryland to discuss how each state was acting on legislation to manage the current influx of e-waste materials to landfills and recycling facilities. The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to reconvene in September and discuss possible solutions, adequate federal policy and stake holder views of the current growing problem of e-waste.