BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1523|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 445-6614 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1523
Author: Sher (D)
Amended: 8/29/02
Vote: 21
SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/22/02
AYES: Sher, McPherson, Chesbro, Figueroa, Kuehl, O'Connell
NOES: McClintock
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 9-4, 5/23/02
AYES: Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Karnette, McPherson,
Murray, Perata, Speier
NOES: Battin, Johannessen, Johnson, Poochigian
SENATE FLOOR : 21-12, 5/29/02
AYES: Alarcon, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Chesbro, Costa,
Dunn, Figueroa, Karnette, Kuehl, Machado, McPherson,
Murray, O'Connell, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Romero, Scott,
Sher, Vasconcellos
NOES: Ackerman, Battin, Brulte, Haynes, Johannessen,
Johnson, Knight, Margett, McClintock, Monteith, Oller,
Poochigian
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not available
SUBJECT : Solid waste: cathode ray tubes and CRT
devices: recycling
and refurbishment
SOURCE : Author
CONTINUED
SB 1523
Page
2
DIGEST : This bill requires every retailer or
manufacturer that sells Cathode Ray Tube devices (CRT
devices) collect a Cathode Ray Tube Recycling Fee (fee) on
each CRT device. The bill also establishes the Cathode Ray
Tube Recycling Account (Account) for the fees to be
deposited, grant programs to expend the funds from the
Account and establishes the CRT Recycling Advisory
Committee.
Assembly Amendments (1) set the recycling fee on cathode
ray devices (CRT) at $10; (2) delete provision requiring
the board to design and issue a label for the purpose of
designating CRT devices for which fees have been paid; and
(3) require a report to the Legislature on the
implementation of the bill's provisions.
ANALYSIS : This bill:
1. Requires on and after January 1, 2004, every retailer or
manufacturer that sells CRT devices in the state to
collect at the time of sale, a fee of $10 on each CRT
device.
2. Requires the CIWMB to establish procedures for the
imposition and collection of the fee on CRT devices sold
by retailers or manufacturers directly to consumers.
3. Provides, to the extent necessary, that the CIWMB
collect information from the manufacturers of CRT
devices on their sales of CRT devices, including any
manufacturer's devices sold by retailers, and the fees
paid on those devices.
4. Requires the proposed state law provisions to become
inoperative should a specific federal law establish a
CRT collection or recycling program, or a final court
judgment is issued declaring collection of fees from
out-of-state manufacturers or retailers may not be
required.
5. Establishes the CRT Recycling Advisory Committee
consisting of various public, nonprofit, and private
sector parties involved in the manufacture,
refurbishment, recycling, and disposal of CRT's for the
SB 1523
Page
3
purposes of advising the CIWMB on matters pertaining to
the expenditures of the account, and the removal of
impediments to recovery of CRT's for recycling or reuse.
6. Establishes the Account, into which the fee is
transmitted on a quarterly basis, which shall be
available to the CIWMB upon appropriation by the
Legislature for the purposes of:
A. Providing grants to local governments to
establish and maintain local programs that provide
for the convenient and cost-effective collection and
recycling of cathode ray tubes and CRT devices.
B. Providing recycling incentive payments to CRT
material handlers that collect and process cathode
ray tubes and CRT devices.
C. Providing grants to nonprofit organizations that
accept and recycle cathode ray tubes and CRT
devices.
D. Providing grants to manufacturers of CRT devices
to encourage consumers to return the devices for
processing, recycling, or reuse and to assist
manufacturers in collecting, processing, recycling,
or reusing CRT devices.
E. Establishing a public information program to
educate the public on the hazards of improper CRT
device storage and disposal and on the opportunities
to recycle CRT devices and provide funding to DTSC,
upon appropriation, to implement provisions relating
to CRT devices.
1. Declares that on and after January 1, 2004, it is
unlawful for a manufacturer or retailer to sell a CRT
device directly to a consumer in the state unless the
fee has been paid on the CRT device.
Comments :
According to information from the CIWMB and DTSC websites:
SB 1523
Page
4
"E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic
products nearing the end of their 'useful life.' Computers,
televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are
common electronic products. Many of these products can be
reused, refurbished, or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic
discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our
nation's waste stream. In addition, some researchers
estimate that nearly 75 percent of old electronics are in
storage, in part because of the uncertainty over how to
manage the materials. Combine this with increasing advances
in technology and new products headed towards the market
and it is no wonder that E-waste is a popular topic."
The term "E-waste" is loosely applied to consumer and
business electronic equipment that is near or at the end of
its useful life. There is no clear definition for E-waste;
for instance, whether or not items like microwave ovens and
other similar "appliances" should be grouped into the
category have not yet been determined. Certain components
of some electronic products contain materials that render
them hazardous, depending on their condition and density.
CRTs convert an electronic signal into a visual image. A
typical CRT contains between two and five pounds of lead.
Lead is a toxic substance, which may cause lead poisoning
and can be especially harmful to young children. If
products containing lead are disposed of to the trash, the
lead can potentially contaminate the soil and our water
supplies.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill
would potentially generate about $240 million annually and
cost potentially $1.1 million in 2002-03 and $9.2 million
in 2003-04.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/31/02)
Alameda County Waste Management Authority
Allied Waste, Inc.
Apple Computer
AuctionBDI
SB 1523
Page
5
California Chapters Waste Management, Inc.
California Earth Corps
California League of Conservation Voters
California League of Environmental Voters
California Resource Recovery Association
California Refuse Removal Council
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
Clean Water Action
City and County of San Francisco
City of Berkeley
City of Costa Mesa
City of Cypress
City of Daly
City of Davis
City of Huntington Beach
City of Lakewood
City of Lompoc
City of Milpitas
City of Modesto
City of Morro Bay
City of Oakland
City of Santa Ana
City of Santa Barbara
City of Santa Cruz
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Ventura
Council of California Goodwill Industries
County of Butte
County of Contra Costa
County of Humboldt
County of Marin
County of Riverside
County of Santa Clara
County of Santa Cruz
County of Yolo
County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
East Bay Municipal District
Fox Electronics
HMR Group USA
HMR Group San Francisco
League of California Cities
North American Logistics
Northern California Recyclers Association
SB 1523
Page
6
Norcal Waste Systems, Inc.
Planning and Conservation League
Republic Services, Inc.
RMD Technologies, Inc.
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management
Authority
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Sierra Club
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Solid Waste Association of North America
Waste Management, Inc.
OPPOSITION : (Verified 8/31/02)
American Electronics Association
California Alliance for Consumer Protection
California Chamber of Commerce
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
Cal-Tax
Cannon U.S.A., Inc.
Computing Technology Industry Association
Electronics Industries Alliance
Fry's Electronics
Gateway Computers Fry's Electronics
Hewlett Packard Company
Information Technology Association of America
JVC Americas Corporation
Panasonic Electric Corporation of America
Radio Shack Corporation
Samsung
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Sharp Electronics Corporation
CP:jk 8/31/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****