PRINTER'S NO. 817
No. 112 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY MANN, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BARRAR, BENNINGTON, BEYER,
BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CURRY, DALEY, DePASQUALE, EACHUS,
FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST,
GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARRIS, HENNESSEY,
JOSEPHS, KING, KORTZ, KULA, LEACH, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI,
MARKOSEK, MELIO, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PETRARCA,
PETRONE, READSHAW, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SABATINA, SANTONI,
SIPTROTH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, VULAKOVICH, WALKO,
YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK AND HORNAMAN, MARCH 19, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
MARCH 19, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Department of Environmental Protection to identify
2 and implement policies which encourage the use of current
3 electronic waste recycling programs and expand existing
4 programs.
5 WHEREAS, Consumer electronics, including computers, monitors,
6 televisions, audio equipment, printers, mobile phones and other
7 electronic devices, are characterized by rapidly evolving
8 technology and a relatively short product life; and
9 WHEREAS, The average lifespan of a new computers is three to
10 four years, and discarded computers are the fastest growing part
11 of our waste stream; and
12 WHEREAS, Electronic waste comprises 1% to 4% of the municipal
13 solid waste in the United States; and
14 WHEREAS, According to the environmental Protection Agency, of
15 the more than 20 million personal computers that became obsolete
1 in 1998, only 13% were reused or recycled; and
2 WHEREAS, The National Safety Council projects that nearly 250
3 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Electronic waste contains metals which can become
6 hazardous and negatively impact our health and environment if
7 not properly managed or contained; and
8 WHEREAS, These metals include cadmium, a toxic substance
9 which can damage kidneys, lead, which can damage central and
10 peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidneys and which
11 severely impacts neurological development in children, and
12 mercury, which can cause brain damage; and
13 WHEREAS, Electronic waste recycling programs are currently
14 operating in more than 30 counties in this Commonwealth; and
15 WHEREAS, It is imperative that the Commonwealth take
16 additional steps to address potential environmental pollutants
17 and health hazards by significantly increasing the amount of
18 recycled electronic waste generated by individuals and
19 households; therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
21 Department of Environmental Protection to take appropriate steps
22 to identify and implement policies which encourage the use of
23 existing electronic waste recycling options and which expand
24 electronic waste recycling efforts in this Commonwealth.
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