BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  SB 1619|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 1619
          Author:   Romero (D), et al
          Amended:  5/8/02
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  5-1, 4/22/02
          AYES:  Sher, McPherson, Chesbro, Figueroa, Kuehl
          NOES:  McClintock

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  8-4, 5/23/02
          AYES:  Alpert, Bowen, Escutia, Karnette, McPherson, Murray,  
            Perata, Speier
          NOES:  Battin, Johannessen, Johnson, Poochigian


           SUBJECT  :    Solid waste:  cathode ray tubes and CRT devices

           SOURCE :     Californians Against Waste


           DIGEST  :    This bill, in conjunction with SB 1523 (Sher),  
          establishes a program to recover, reuse, and recycle  
          cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and CRT devices, as defined.  

           ANALYSIS  :    Under this bill, the Integrated Waste  
          Management Board (IWMB) could use the funds in the Cathode  
          Ray Tube Recycling Account (Account), established in SB  
          1523 (Sher), which is also on the Senate Floor, for the  
          same purposes listed in SB 1523 (Sher).  These include: (1)  
          matching grant funds to local governments to establish and  
          maintain convenient and cost-effective collection and  
          processing of CRTs and CRT devices; (2) providing annual  
          recycling incentive payments to CRT handlers; (3) providing  
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          grants to nonprofit organizations that refurbish CRTs and  
          CRT devices; (4) providing grants to manufacturers to  
          encourage consumers to return the devices; (5) establishing  
          a public information program; and (6) funding the  
          Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC's)  
          enforcement activities and regulations.

          This bill makes legislative findings and declarations, and  
          states the goals of the state regarding the diversion,  
          reuse, and recycling of CRTs and CRT devices.

          This bill requires by January 1, 2004, that all CRTs and  
          CRT devices, and packaging containing those tubes or  
          devices, include a clear and conspicuous label of a size  
          and format approved by the Department of Toxic Substance  
          Control that contains the following:  (1) a warning  
          statement approved by DTSC stating that the CRT device  
          contains one or more hazardous materials, the disposal of  
          which may pose a threat to the environment and public  
          health; (2) a list of the hazardous materials; and (3)  
          information on how to properly discard CRTs. 

           Comments  :

           1. Purpose of bill  .  According to the author's office, DTSC  
             has determined that Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) including  
             all televisions and computer monitors are hazardous when  
             disposed of because of the lead content and therefore  
             cannot be disposed of in California landfills.  This  
             ruling applies to more than 6 million CRTs that are  
             awaiting disposal in California homes and businesses.   
             There is no infrastructure or funding in place to handle  
             this kind of discarded material.

             The author points out that local governments operate  
             household hazardous waste facilities to collect and  
             process hazardous materials.  Typically they collect  
             paint, cleansers, batteries, automotive products, and  
             other hazardous materials found in homes.  They have  
             never collected CRTs and they have no infrastructure in  
             place to do so.  Costs for dealing with the existing 6  
             million CRTs awaiting disposal are estimated to be near  
             $1 billion.  The ongoing costs of e-scrap is estimated  
             to be roughly $50 million annually.







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           2. Electronic waste or "E-Waste" and CRT's defined  .   
             According to information from the CIWMB and DTSC  
             websites: "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.  For instance, California  
             regulation currently views nonfunctioning CRTs (cathode  
             ray tubes) from televisions and monitors as hazardous." 

             CRTs, often called "picture tubes," 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. When tested, most CRT's exceed the regulatory  
             threshold for lead and are identified as hazardous waste  
             when discarded.  Waste CRTs are subject to hazardous  
             waste regulations which went into effect August 3, 2001.  
              The regulations protect the environment by promoting  
             the safe collection and recycling of waste CRT's.   
             Disposing of CRTs to the trash or to a municipal  
             landfill is prohibited."  







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          NOTE:  See Senate Environmental Quality Committee analysis  
          for further comments.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  Yes   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/23/02)

          Californians Against Waste (source)
          Alameda County Waste Management Authority
          Allied Waste, Inc.
          Berkeley City Council
          California Earth Corps
          California Refuse Removal Council
          California State Association of Counties
          City and County of San Francisco
          Cities of Costa Mesa, Milpitas, Morro Bay City Council and  
          Santa Ana 
          County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
          Davis City Council
          East Bay Municipal Utility District
          League of California Cities
          Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force
          National Council of Jewish Women/LA
          Norcal Waste Systems, Inc. 
          Republic Services, Inc.
          Planning and Conservation League
          Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
          San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management  
                         Authority
          Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
          Sierra Club
          Solid Waste Association of North America
          California Chapters Waste Management, Inc.
          14 individuals  
           
           OPPOSITION  :    (Verified  5/23/02)

          American Electronics Association
          California Chamber of Commerce
          California Manufacturers and Technology Association
          Computing Technology Industry Association
          Electronic Industries Alliance







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          Hewlett-Packard Company
          Osram Sylvania
          Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group  
           

          CP:jk  5/24/02   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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