Testimony on Behalf of Johanna Neumann, Maryland PIRG
Position: FAVORABLE
Toxic waste from consumer electronics is an enormous problem. Computers contain more than 1,000 materials, including lead and cadmium in computer circuit boards, lead oxide and barium in computer monitors' cathode ray tubes, mercury in switches and flat screens, and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing.
Computers are sold in vast quantities, and as dead computers pile up, we hardly have any infrastructure to handle them properly. Some counties have voluntarily set up limited collection activities, but most have not. Consumers have no good options. Many computers go to landfills and incinerators. At best, they are piling up in garages and attics.
Maryland PIRG was honored to be a part of a workgroup in 2004 to study options for boosting recycling of consumer electronics. The workgroup contained diverse interests that had strikingly different views on the issue. It was clear that consensus would not be possible between different parts of the industry, local governments, and environmental organizations. Del. Morhaim took the opportunity to step forward and passed HB 575 in 2005, which established a statewide computer recycling pilot program.
That pilot program is in effect and working, and this bill would codify the program in state law. It would also expand the scope of the project to a broad range of consumer electronic devices. Local governments will obtain funding for collection events and the toxicity of our wastestream would be reduced.
Maryland PIRG respectfully urges the committee to report favorably on HB 488.
