HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20 - Hazardous Electronics Producers to take Responsibility for Reuse & Recycling of their ProductsRESOLUTION NO. ll a— Q-6
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, URGING
COMPUTER AND OTHER HAZARDOUS
ELECTRONICS PRODUCERS TO TAKE RESPONSI-
BILITY FOR REUSE AND RECYCLING OF THEIR
PRODUCTS.
WHEREAS, hazardous electronic discards are an increasing problem, with
more than 6,000 computers becoming obsolete in California every day, and 3.2
million tons of electronic waste ending up in United States landfills in 2000, and
estimated to quadruple in the next few years; and
WHEREAS, hazardous electronics contain lead, cadmium, mercury,
hexavalent chromium, polyvinyl chloride, brominated flame retardants, and other
materials that can pose hazards to human health and the environment when handled
improperly; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control recently
affirmed that discarded cathode ray tubes, such as those found in televisions and
computer monitors, are prohibited from disposal, increasing concerns and costs
regarding handling, management, and liability; and
WHEREAS, discarded computers and televisions may represent just the tip of
a growing and hazardous electronics wasteberg; and
WHEREAS, managing hazardous electronic scrap through the City's existing
household hazardous waste program will potentially double the volume and cost of
this already overburdened program; and
WHEREAS, only 14 percent of personal computers that became obsolete in
1998 were recycled or refurbished; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to protecting public health and the
environment from hazardous discards, while reducing waste and increasing recycling,
consistent with state waste diversion requirements; and
WHEREAS, the form, volume, and toxicity of electronics scrap demands
substantially greater producer responsibility for (1) reducing the amount of hazardous
materials in electronic devices; (2) diverting hazardous electronics from solid waste
disposal; and (3) increasing the reuse and recycling of electronic devices and
components; and
WHEREAS, extended producer responsibility principles, such as those being
adopted by several countries and the European Union, will foster the development of
sustainable design and recovery of hazardous electronic equipment by shifting the
default burden of management responsibility from local government, ratepayers, and
taxpayers back to the manufacturers, distributors, and consumers of such products,
in part by internalizing lifecycle costs in the price of such products;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY urge its State Assembly and State Senate
Representatives, by letter and receipt of this resolution, to introduce and support
legislation requiring computer and other hazardous electronics producers to operate or
fund comprehensive programs whereby products are sustainably designed and
labeled, consumers receive a financial incentive for proper disposal, a convenient
collection infrastructure yielding a high rate of recovery is created, and
environmentally sound reuse followed by recycling is maximized.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if no effective producer responsibility program
is created by the electronics industry or enacted by the California Legislature and
signed by the Governor by October 15, 2002, the City will commence preparing a
local ordinance to require sellers and manufacturers to take back hazardous electronic
equipment free of charge at the point of purchase or to otherwise establish and
finance a convenient recovery system.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that should the electronics industry and the
Legislature and Governor fail to act, the City may add a requirement for a deposit or
fee at the point of sale to provide incentives for consumers to properly return such
products for reuse or recycling, and to cover the costs to the City and others for
proper management of such products.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of April, 2 02.
f
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
ATTEST:
N4� T
Deputy City Clerk f the City of Costa Mesa
APPROVED AS FORM
;oCITY AT36A NE
6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, MARY T. ELLIOTT, Deputy City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council
of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing
Resolution No. 42 - a.4 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 15t day of April, 2002.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this 2"d day of April, 2002.
C
b1l T. EIIL��
Deputy Ci Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of
the City C ncil of the City of Costa Mesa