Rep. Zack Hudgins,
D-Seattle, says a state law that just went into effect to encourage recycling of
electronics needs some tinkering to make sure it doesn't inadvertently bankrupt
businesses that fix old computers. Hudgins' South Seattle district includes
several computer-refurbishing shops. The law went into effect yesterday. It
allows consumers to recycle computers, computer monitors, laptops and TVs for
free. It is being hailed as groundbreaking nationally because it marks the first
time a state has forced electronics manufacturers to pay the entire cost of the
recycling. But there's a big problem with the law, according to
environmentalists as well as the computer refurbishers. They say it puts a big
hurdle in the way of the computer rebuilders. So Hudgins says he is drafting
legislation in an attempt to fix the problem. The legislation would allow
nonprofit groups to fix perhaps 500 to 1,000 computers per year for resale to
the public.
SEATTLE - A new state law that helps you get rid of your old electronics for
free is hurting charities.
Charities can no longer fix up old equipment to reuse it, but a brand new
bill headed to the state legislature Wednesday could bring some relief.
Representative Zack Hudgins' new bill aims to allow electronics collectors to
make minor repairs so they can reuse old electronics.
The current law is a problem for charities like Interconnection in Seattle.
Since the new recycling law went into affect on January 1st, they now have to
throw away hundreds of computers that could be put to good use.
At Interconnection, you'll find trained hands tinkering with donated
computers.