The U.S. House of Represenatives' Science and Technology Committee held a hearing today to discuss and review the current management of e-waste in the United States. This hearing was only a starting point to discuss possible federal e-waste legislation aimed at improving recycling programs for e-waste and developing products with fewer toxins.

Representatives from HP and Sony discussed their current recycling programs, including a representative from HP saying that it makes more sense for manufacturers to pay recycling fees when referencing the high costs to recycling. Even with their programs in place, it was noted that only 15% of HP electronics were recycled last year. In the US, less than 20% of discarded electronics are recycled according to the U.S. EPA. In California, that number is a little higher. Currently, 13 states have created recycling programs, including California.

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What You Can Do

• Learn more about California's e-waste law and other states e-waste laws.
• Find a place to properly dispose of your unwanted electronics.

There was a resounding victory in the battle against global warming today, with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency has the right to regulate greenhouse gases emitted from cars. The ruling is a strong rebuke to the Administration’s inaction on the issue and will pave the way for reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Environmental advocates won on all three issues before the court. The first issue was whether states have standing to challenge an EPA decision in court. The high court clearly affirmed the rights of the states to sue. The second question was whether the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars under the Clean Air Act. The court agreed that "greenhouse gases fit well within the Act's capacious definition of 'air pollutant'" and went on to say that the “EPA has statutory authority to regulate emission of such gases from new motor vehicles."

The final question before the court was whether the EPA has discretion on whether to regulate the emissions. The court held that the reasons provided by the agency for refusing to regulate these gases (including foreign policy concerns) were not adequate. Justice Stevens, who authored theThe majority opinion, stated the "EPA has offered no reasoned explanation" for its refusal and ordered the EPA to reevaluate its position in the scope of the Clean Air Act.

This case will also offer a significant boost to California's efforts to curtail global warming. The state is being sued by automobile manufacturers over its attempts to impose stricter regulations over greenhouse gases. The manufacturers’ claim that carbon dioxide isn’t an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act will be undermined by today's Supreme Court ruling.

Although the ruling doesn't require greenhouse gas regulation, it adds to the mounting pressure on the Bush Administration to address the issue. Business leaders and each of the presidential frontrunners (both Democratic and Republican) have acknowledged that action needs to be taken to curb global warming. It is time to act to slow global warming.

The nation’s largest recycling and waste management associations this week issued a joint statement calling for the reuse or recycling of all electronic waste or "e-scrap." The Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA), the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) said, "Reuse and recycling are far and away the preferred methods of e-scrap management-and with sufficient infrastructure; nearly all discarded electronic products could be technically and economically recyclable." They went on to say that an integrated framework of federal regulations complemented by more customized state regulations would help achieve this goal.

California already requires the recycling of virtually all e-scrap. And while Californians Against Waste has successfully sponsored the enactment of several state laws establishing a system of extended producer responsibility for the collection and recycling of some types of problem 'e-waste' (i.e. TV's and Computer monitors, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries), California continues to dispose of more than 400,000 tons of toxic electronics annually.

With the start of a new legislative session on January 3, CAW is planning to sponsor a package of new e-scrap legislation aimed at addressing the problem:

Update: The bill was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006. 

The outgoing 109th Congress passed a bill last Friday that will step up action in preventing and cleaning up marine debris in the country. The Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act (S. 362) was a bipartisan sponsored bill that now awaits a signature by President Bush. The bill will establish a marine debris program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for prevention, monitoring and removal of marine debris. It will also increase the efforts of the Coast Guard in prevention and enforcement, improve coordination of different federal agencies, and establish a federal information clearinghouse on marine debris. U.S. Newswire release.

The Ocean Conservancy applauds Congress for completing work on the Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act (S. 362). The Senate approved the bill Friday, clearing it for consideration by the president. This bipartisan bill, sponsored by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), represents an enormous victory in the effort not only to clear our ocean and coasts from damaging marine debris, but in preventing the debris as well.

"Marine debris such as discarded fishing lines and nets is responsible for killing or injuring thousands of marine mammals, fish and birds every year," said Vikki Spruill, president of The Ocean Conservancy. "This legislation helps prevent marine-life entanglement by addressing some of the major sources of dangerous marine debris. It will expand the existing body of science, contribute to our understanding of its sources and lead to more effective prevention."