A hearing in Washington state on the proposed electronic waste bill was attended by remanufacturers and garnered so much interest that a more in-depth study of the topic is planned before the bill is reintroduced for next year's legislative session.
Washington state's House Bill 1942, titled "Regulating Electronic Waste," includes many features similar to early versions of the European Union's recently passed Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
Remanufacturer Robert Parker of The Printer People in Bremerton, Wash., spoke at the public hearing and showed the committee members a chip from a printer cartridge. "I told them that this little chip invalidates HP's entire presentation (which was made earlier in the meeting), explaining that 'This is the dirty little secret HP didn't tell you,'" Parker said.
The bill, introduced to the House of Representatives on Feb. 17, was referred to the Fisheries, Ecology and Parks Committee, which hosted the hearing. The committee is chaired by Representative Mike Cooper, who is also the bill's prime sponsor.
The current version of the bill provides for producers of electronic waste to plan and be responsible for the waste's end-of-life disposal. The bill does not have any language that specifically includes printer cartridges or that prevents impediments to reuse.
In addition to Parker, Kristi and Rick Curtis of American Laser Service in Vancouver, Wash., attended the hearing, which was held on Feb. 28 in Olympia, Wash. Jim Puckett of Seattle-based Basel Action Network, which last year helped uncover the dumping of cartridges and other electronic waste in China, also spoke in support of the bill.
An HP representative gave a presentation two speakers before Parker, claiming that HP was already acting responsibly with regard to electronic waste and that the proposed bill was unnecessary, Parker said.
When Parker had his chance to speak, he showed the committee members a chip from a cartridge, and explained how it was used to prevent or discourage remanufacturing. Parker said, "I told them, 'Think about how many toner cartridges are put in a printer before you throw it away. Don't worry about the printer, worry about the cartridges.'"
Parker said, "I explained that one of the solutions to electronic waste is remanufacturing. I was asking on behalf of 300 small business owners (in Washington state). I said that they could listen to HP's PowerPoint presentation, or listen to a small business owner."
Parker was pleased with committee's reaction to his presentation, which "went over really well," he said. In addition, Parker talked to Representative Cooper on the phone the next day, and Cooper explained that he hadn't known how controversial the bill was going to be. Due to the increased interest in the bill, they would not be able to get it through the committee in time for the current legislative session, so it will be held over for next year, Parker said.
A spokesperson for Representative Cooper said that it was likely that a study of the topic will be done during the interim, and then the bill will be ready for further discussion during the next legislative session, which begins January 2004.
Sarah Westervelt of BAN said that it could take two years for the bill to make its way through the committee and to face a legislative vote.
For more information on the bill, visit the Basel Action Network, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation or the Washington State Legislature site.
For a sample letter of support, Washington state remanufacturers can contact Recharger Magazine at info@rechargermag.com or (702) 438-5557.
