Federal E-Waste Recycling Legislation Introduced

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., have introduced legislation to increase the recycling of electronics and to reduce the use of hazardous materials in the products.

The Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act “would provide research grants to find ways to deal with the growing amount of e-waste, much of which contains hazardous materials and should not be dumped into landfills,” says a press release from Klobuchar’s office.

“Technology continues to advance, but our ways of disposing of electronic equipment haven't kept up,” said Klobuchar in the press release. “Many states, including Minnesota, are leading the way on recycling electronic equipment, but we need a national solution to ensure that all unwanted electronics are discarded in a safe and responsible manner.”

“For too long, too many people have been improperly dumping electronic devices without being aware of the dangerous effects on our environment,” Gillibrand added in the release. “This legislation is a win-win for protecting the environment and our families. It takes the right steps to develop the best methods to change the way we dispose of outdated and unused electronics, and the hazardous materials they often contain.”