On July 23, 2013 H.R.279, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2013, was referred to the following two House Committees: the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. For a full summary… Read More
On July 23, 2013 H.R.279, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2013, was referred to the following two House Committees: the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. For a full summary of the bill, please click here.
You can take action and help build broad bi-partisan support for this important piece of legislation in 3 easy steps:
1) Find your member of Congress online and write down their Washington address.
2) Fill in the Legislators address and sign your name on the Support RERA Letter (next page).
3) Mail letter to your legislator!
More Resources:
Electronics TakeBack Coalition – The Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC) promotes green design and responsible recycling in the electronics industry. Our goal is to protect the health and well being of electronics users, workers, and the communities where electronics are produced and discarded by requiring consumer electronics manufacturers and brand owners to take full responsibility for the life cycle of their products, through effective public policy requirements or enforceable agreements.
Letter Text
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you in support of H.R. 2791 the “The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA) of 2013,” which prohibits the export of certain electronic waste from the United States. This legislation will promote sustainability, create green jobs, and ensure that the United States is responsibly handling the growing amount of electronic waste that is being consumed within our boarders. As your constituent, I urge you to co-sponsor this bi-partisan legislation.
Discarded computers, TVs, phones and other consumer electronics – commonly referred to as electronic waste or “e-waste” – now comprise the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the U.S. generates more than 3.4 million tons of e-waste a year. Improperly disposing of this material creates environmental, health, and national security risks.
RERA of 2013 ensures that e-waste generated in the United States is not ‘dumped’ on developing countries lacking the infrastructure to recycle the material in a non-harmful method. The serious impact on public health and the environment is at risk if we continue to export e-waste with known toxins to developing countries.
RERA will also create domestic green jobs. According to a study commissioned by the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling, restricting e-waste exports could create up to 42,000 direct jobs and indirect new jobs with a total payroll of more than $1 billion.
In conclusion, RERA is a win-win for the economy and the environment. It will create good-paying recycling jobs here in the U.S., while taking concrete steps to address a growing environmental and health crisis. Please support this legislation.
Sincerely,
I recently wrote an article about the state of electronic waste in the united states and was in awe of the little amount of legislation in our country that deals with exporting old electronics. It’s both a health hazard to those in impoverished countries as well as a security issue!
Pingback: The Electronic Waste Crisis: 5 Things You Can Do to Help |