BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1022
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1022 (Eggman)
As Amended April 23, 2013
Majority vote
NATURAL RESOURCES 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Grove, Bigelow, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Garcia, Muratsuchi, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Patterson, Skinner, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Stone, Williams | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| | | |Hall, Ammiano, Linder, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Dedicates $10 million annually for cathode ray tube
(CRT) glass market development payments for manufacturers and
recyclers that manufacture products in California using recycled
CRT glass. Specifically, this bill :
1)Defines "CRT glass" to mean glass derived from the treatment
or breakage of a cathode ray tube that is from or part of a
CED.
2)Establishes "CRT glass market development payments" for a
manufacturer or an electronic waste recycler who uses CRT
glass to manufacture a product in the state.
3)Continuously appropriates $10 million annually for CRT glass
market development payments from the Electronic Waste Recovery
and Recycling Account.
4)Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to
administer the CRT glass market development payments (the
other payments under the Act are administered by CalRecycle).
5)Specifies that DTSC may only make a CRT glass market
development payment to a manufacturer or electronic waste
recycler if it determines that:
a) The manufacturer or recycler demonstrates that it is in
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compliance with all applicable laws; and,
b) The manufacturer or recycler will use the glass to
manufacture a product in the state.
6)Sunsets the provisions of the bill on an unspecified date.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (Act)
to provide a cost-free and convenient means for consumers to
return, recycle, and ensure the safe and environmentally-sound
disposal of covered electronic devices (CEDs). A CED is a
video display device containing a screen greater than four
inches, measured diagonally. CEDs that are discarded are
considered covered electronic waste (CEW).
2)Requires a consumer to pay a CEW recycling fee upon the
purchase of a new or refurbished CED at the time of the retail
sale. The CEW recycling fee ranges from $3 to $5 for each
CED, depending on the screen size, and is used primarily to
pay CEW collectors and recyclers.
3)Provides for payments to CEW collectors and recyclers for
costs associated with collecting and recycling CEW that has
been generated in the state. Regulations expressly prohibit a
CEW collector or recycler from requesting payments for
non-California CEW. CEW owned by a person in California but
used entirely outside of the state is not eligible for
payment.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)This bill continuously appropriates $10 million annually for
CRT glass market development from the Electronic Waste
Recovery and Recycling Account until 2023.
2)The electronic waste recovery fund will have a fund balance
exceeding $50 million by the end of FY 13/14.
3)One-time costs to CalRecycle to develop regulations and
administer the program of approximately $250,000. Unknown
on-going costs depending on the number of applicants.
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4)Minor, absorbable costs for DTSC to consult with CalRecyle on
CRT incentive payments.
COMMENTS : In 2001, DTSC determined that CRT devices are
hazardous, which means that they must be managed as hazardous
waste when disposed. In response to this determination, the
Legislature enacted SB 20 and SB 50 (Sher) in 2003, which
established the Act to create a cost-free and convenient way for
consumers to return, recycle, and ensure the safe and
environmentally-sound disposal of hazardous video display
devices, including CRTs. Since January 2005, more than 965
million pounds (approximately 75%) of CEW have been recycled as
a result of the Act. The Act has created jobs and fostered
California's electronic waste and recycling infrastructure with
approximately 600 approved CEW collectors and 60 approved
recyclers throughout the state. The state's CEW infrastructure
also recovers substantial quantities of miscellaneous electronic
waste not covered by the CEW payment system.
A CRT includes the glass tube and panel contained in older-model
televisions and computer monitors. Because of its high
lead-content (about 25%), there are limited recycling options
for CRT glass. Last month, CalRecycle held a CEW Recycling
Program Stakeholder Workshop, which included a discussion about
the challenges of managing CRT glass. Currently, this material
can only be used to manufacture new CRT glass, for which there
is very little market, and in lead smelters, which recycles only
the lead contained in the glass. CalRecycle has only identified
three smelters in the US that will accept significant quantities
of CRT glass. The panel portion of the glass is less hazardous,
containing little to no lead and barium for radiation shielding,
but also lacks a recycling market. As a result, CRT glass is
being stockpiled by electronic waste recyclers. According to
DTSC, in 2010 more than 17 million pounds of CRT glass had
accumulated at collection facilities.
In October of last year, DTSC adopted emergency regulations to
try to address this glut of CRT glass. The regulations: allow
recycling options other than CRT glass-to-CRT glass and lead
smelting, consistent with the requirements for other hazardous
waste recycling requirements; allow the disposal of leaded CRT
glass at hazardous waste disposal facilities; and, allow the
disposal of non-leaded panel glass (e.g., barium-coated panel
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glass) at solid waste landfills. While these regulations create
a pathway for expanded recycling and disposal, they will not
address the need for new processing technologies to make CRT
glass recyclable.
CalRecycle indicates that new lead extraction technologies are
being developed on a small scale, which may enable both the lead
and the glass to be recycled. On example of this technology is
Closed Loop Recycling, located in Arizona, which has developed a
process that separates CRTs. The less-hazardous panel glass is
separated for polishing to remove any coatings and the clean
glass is sold for recycling. The leaded funnel and any leaded
panel glass is processed using a new type of furnace that
operates at a lower temperature than traditional glass furnaces.
This lower temperature prevents the lead from volatizing,
allowing the lead and the molten glass to be separated for
recycling.
This bill : According to the author, this bill is intended to
keep leaded CRT glass out of the waste stream and create jobs in
California by providing incentives for CRT glass recycling. The
incentives would be funded using existing fees collected under
the Act.
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0000858