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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Garcia, M. H.

DATE TYPED 2/08/05

HJM 3

SHORT TITLE Study Electronic Waste

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION

(in $000s)

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

Indeterminate Non-Recurring indeterminate

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Companion to SJM9

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Department of Environment (NMED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 3 requests the Secretary of the Department of Environment (NMED) to

appoint a task force including representatives from NMED to access the problem of electronic

waste.

Significant Issues

According to DFA, nationwide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports elec-

tronics make up about one percent of the municipal solid waste in landfills and it is growing

three times faster than other forms of municipal waste. Of greater concern is the hazardous sub-

stances, such as lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, polychlorinated bi-

phenyls and bromated flame retardants, that makeup the electronics. These materials may pre-

sent a danger to the public, to the air and to groundwater of New Mexico. DFA noted that elec-

tronic waste can be collected, sorted, treated and disposed of as hazardous waste but the method

House Joint Memorial 3 -- Page 2

of disposal is costly. Rather than go this route, many states are implementing electronic recycling

programs as a viable option to keep electronic waste out of landfills. Numerous private indus-

tries are now offering collection and recycling services at no charge when collection and trans-

portation are organized by public entities. The Memorial seeks to identify recycling options and

opportunities that might exists for in the State.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The Department of Environment indicated that the department may have incidental costs associ-

ated with carrying out the task force such as: Staff time and per diem to travel to out-of-town

meetings; data collection through surveys and site visits; copying and document distribution.

DH/sb