Congressmen Introduce National E-Waste Recycling Bill

Washington — U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., have introduced the National Computer Recycling Act, which would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and implement a national electronic waste recycling program. If passed, the bill would order the EPA to create a grant program to encourage individuals, organizations, cities and counties to start e-waste recycling programs. The bill also would require the EPA to conduct a study of e-waste and make recommendations on how to address it, and would impose a $10 fee on new computers to fund the EPA grant program. According to the bill, manufacturers and retailers with existing recycling programs would be exempt.