HLS 10RS-6089 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 262
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
ENVIRONMENT: Urges the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality to
establish an Electronic Recycling and Reuse Task Force
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality to establish2
and appoint an Electronic Recycling and Reuse Task Force to determine viable3
methods for the reuse and recycling of electronic devices for all Louisiana citizens,4
to eliminate the threat to the environment caused by disposal of electronic waste in5
landfills, to review what is currently successful in this state in the area of electronic6
recycling, and to recommend the expansion of best practices and new innovative7
solutions at the state, community, and individual levels.8
WHEREAS, computers as well as monitors, cellphones, phones, televisions, and9
other electronic material may pose serious environmental threats when disposed of10
improperly because they contain hazardous materials, including lead, mercury and other11
heavy metals, materials which leach out of those items in a landfill environment leading to12
the hazardous materials being introduced into the surrounding land and even into the13
groundwater; and14
WHEREAS, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, close to four15
hundred million units of electronic material are discarded every year in the United States16
totaling over three million tons; and17
WHEREAS, of this material discarded less than fourteen percent is currently being18
reused or recycled; and19
WHEREAS, electronic discards (e-waste) is the fastest growing municipal segment20
of the municipal waste stream in the United States; and21 HLS 10RS-6089 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 262
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WHEREAS, the reuse of one hundred computers with monitors saves enough1
electricity to power sixty-eight households in the United States for a year, and the2
greenhouse reduction equivalent of removing forty-eight passenger cars from the road each3
year; and4
WHEREAS, recycling one hundred computers and monitors saves the electricity5
equivalent of powering two and three-quarters households in the United States for a year and6
the same as removing two passenger cars from the road per year; and7
WHEREAS, the estimated demand for low cost refurbished computers in the United8
States for schools, nonprofit organizations, and low-income families is close to twenty-five9
million; and10
WHEREAS, Louisiana has a high rate of poverty and many low-income families are11
unable to afford new computers creating a growing digital divide, and many schools, Head12
Start programs, and nonprofit organizations in Louisiana are unable to afford new13
technology; and14
WHEREAS, the availability of refurbished electronics, primarily computers and15
monitors, can help bridge this divide; and16
WHEREAS, there exists a need to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy to17
address the problems associated with the disposal of computers, televisions, and other18
electronic equipment in Louisiana's landfills and to study ways to encourage the reuse or19
refurbishment and recycling of these products and their component parts.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of21
Environmental Quality is hereby urged and requested to establish and appoint an Electronic22
Recycling and Reuse Task Force to determine viable methods for the reuse and recycling of23
electronic devices for all Louisiana citizens, to eliminate the threat to the environment24
caused by disposal of electronic waste in landfills, to review what is currently successful in25
this state in the area of electronic recycling, and to recommend the expansion of best26
practices and new innovative solutions at the state, community, and individual levels. 27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be charged with gathering28
information and making recommendations to the department, the governor's office, and the29
legislature relative to policies which include the following:30 HLS 10RS-6089 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 262
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(1)Consideration of a ban on the landfill disposal of e-waste.1
(2)Creation of green jobs through the implementation and expansion of2
programs for the recycling and reuse of electronic waste.3
(3)Build on, not supplant or undermine, the existing infrastructure which is4
primarily in the nonprofit and private sector that currently diverts electronic waste in5
Louisiana.6
(4)Increase diversion rates for electronic devices.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Electronic Recycling and Reuse Task Force8
consist of the following members appointed by the secretary of the Department of9
Environmental Quality:10
(1)One employee from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality who11
is familiar with electronic recycling.12
(2)One member who is from a small local government recycling program.13
(3)One member who is from an urban municipality public recycling program.14
(4)One member from Capital Area Corporate Recycling.15
(5)One member who is employed by a Louisiana-based private recycling16
business.17
(6)One member who is a computer or television manufacturer.18
(7)One member who is employed by a private landfill operator.19
(8)One member who is employed by a waste hauling business.20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the21
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.22
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HCR No. 262
Urges and requests the secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Quality to establish and
appoint an Electronic Recycling and Reuse Task Force.