SENATE MEMORIAL 14

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

A MEMORIAL

ENCOURAGING MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS OF ELECTRONICS TO COMMIT TO PROTECTING NEW MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENT BY SUPPORTING A VOLUNTARY ELECTRONIC WASTE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM.

     WHEREAS, rapid advances in technology coupled with an explosion in sales of consumer electronics has created an exponential increase in electronic waste, also known or referred to as e-waste, that contains dangerous substances such as lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls that can pollute New Mexico's air and water; and

     WHEREAS, electronic waste consists of electronic products that are discarded by consumers, including televisions; computers; audio and stereo equipment; VCRs and DVD players; video cameras; telephones; cellular phones and other wireless devices; fax machines; copy machines; and video game consoles; and

     WHEREAS, a recent study by the government accountability office estimates that fifty million computers and twenty million televisions become obsolete each year, and the environmental protection agency estimates that only about ten percent of electronic waste is recycled; and

     WHEREAS, used and nonfunctioning electronic products draw down landfill space, and recycling those products prevents the release of heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls that could pose environmental and health risks; and

     WHEREAS, protection of New Mexico's air, land and water resources is vital to the public health, safety and welfare of its residents; and

     WHEREAS, in the 2005 legislative session, the legislature passed Senate Joint Memorial 9, which requested the secretary of environment to appoint a task force to assess the problem of electronic waste in New Mexico and make recommendations for the development of a statewide disposal and recycling program; and

     WHEREAS, in its 2005 report to the legislature, the task force recommended that a voluntary statewide electronic waste collection and recycling program be implemented, first as a pilot program and then statewide, focusing on used computers; and

     WHEREAS, the task force recommended that local and national electronic retailers support electronic waste recycling by providing their customers with information regarding the voluntary electronic waste pilot program; and

     WHEREAS, computer manufacturers can also assist the voluntary electronic waste pilot program by providing informational and financial support; and

     WHEREAS, success of the pilot program is crucial to implementing an effective voluntary electronic waste recycling program across New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced in the 2006 legislative session seeking twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) to fund a voluntary electronic waste collection and recycling pilot program through the department of environment, with the funds contingent on receiving a matching effort on behalf of the computer manufacturers and retailers to develop marketing and advertising programs; and

     WHEREAS, a commitment by the electronic manufacturers and retailers to support the voluntary statewide e-waste collection and recycling pilot program would show that their companies and businesses are committed to helping protect New Mexico's environment;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that manufacturers and retailers of electronics be encouraged to commit to protecting New Mexico's environment by supporting a voluntary electronic waste collection and recycling pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the manufacturers and retailers of electronics demonstrate their commitment by providing the public with information on electronic waste recycling and by offering financial support or equivalent resources to the pilot program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of environment, the chair of the interim radioactive and hazardous materials committee and members of the electronic waste task force.

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