June 2009

Maine Is First State To Pass Mercury Lamp Recycling Law
Last week, Maine became the first US state to pass a law requiring makers of mercury-containing lamps, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), to fund recycling of their products.

Toronto Releases Three Studies On Drink Cup Reduction And Recycling
In advance of new efforts to divert disposable hot drink cups from city landfills, last week Toronto released reports on three studies it recently commissioned.

US Congress Considers Restricting Certain Substances In Electrical Equipment
Called the Environmental Design for Electrical Equipment Act of 2009, a bill introduced last month in the US House of Representatives would restrict the use of specific heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in certain electrical equipment.

District of Columbia City Council Approves Bag Tax
On June 2, the Washington, D.C. City Council voted unanimously to approve a tax on plastic and paper bags.

California Assembly Votes To Ban PVC In Packaging
While much attention has been paid to the California Senate’s ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in certain products, a potentially more ominous development for plastic makers took place in the California Assembly, which voted to ban PVC in certain types of packaging.

e-Stewards Certification Program Begins
With the support of the Basel Action Network, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) announced on Thursday it has begun offering accreditation for certifying bodies for the e-Stewards Certification Program.

$1 Billion Municipal Waste-To-Energy Bill Introduced In US Senate
On Wednesday, United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced S 1172, which would authorize spending $1 billion over 4 years to develop municipal solid waste as a “clean energy source.”

Nevada Governor Signs E-Waste Study Bill Into Law
On May 29, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons signed a bill authorizing “a study concerning programs for reusing and recycling computers and other electronics.”

San Francisco Passes Mandatory Recycling and Composting Law
According to an ordinance approved on Tuesday by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, all of the city's residents and businesses will need to comply with a new recycling and composting system that involves three color coded bins for curbside pickup.

US And EU Consumer Groups Gather To Discuss Nanotech Risks Strategy
Last week in Brussels, representatives from consumer organizations based in the United States and the European Union met to discuss how to improve regulatory management of potential environmental and personal health risks associated with nanotechnology.

Colorado Governor Signs E-Waste Task Force
On June 1, Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. signed a law authorizing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to create a task force on research electronics recycling and make legislation recommendations.

Vermont Governor Signs Ban On Flame Retardants Into Law
Earlier this month, Governor Jim Douglas signed H444 into law, banning the use of two polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of flame retardants used in plastics used in electronics, furniture foam cushioning and other applications.

Digital TV Transition Problems Appear Limited
On June 15, the Federal Communications Commission announced that its consumer help line had received more than 900,000 calls in the previous week from residents concerned about the digital TV transition on June 12. However, overall, no major glitches have materialized.

Safety Of Recycled Tires As Playground Cover Material Questioned
On June 4, an organization called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to re-examine possible human and environmental health risks associated with crumb rubber, a material made from recycled tires. Since then, the issue has started to get national attention.

Texas Governor Vetos E-Waste Bill
In what some legislators and environmentalists call a surprise decision, Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have created a manufacturer-funded plan to collect and recycle waste TVs.

EPA Issues New Carbon Nanotubes Safety Regulations
In a possible sign that it is focusing greater attention to the emerging issue of nanomaterials safety, the US Environmental Protection Agency published new rules for the safe handling of carbon nanotubes.

North Carolina Prepares To Ban Plastic Bags In Three Counties
On Monday, the North Carolina Senate passed a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags in the state’s Outer Banks region beginning on September 1, 2009.

Boston Program Loans Residents Energy Use Monitoring Devices
Last week, Boston officials announced they would begin making devices used to display the energy consumption of electronics and electrical appliances available to city residents at no charge.

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