SENATE, No. 2973

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 8, 2015

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  BOB SMITH

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Revises electronic waste recycling laws.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning electronic waste recycling, amending and supplementing P.L.2007, c.347, and amending P.L.2008, c. 130.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.95) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    As used in sections 1 through 21 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.94 et seq.) [and] , section 3 of P.L.2008, c.130 (C.13:1E-99.96a) , and section 7 of P.L.   , c.   (C.   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     "Authorized recycler" means a person who: (1) engages in the manual or mechanical separation of covered electronic devices to recover components and commodities contained therein for the purpose of re-use or recycling; or (2) changes the physical or chemical composition of a covered electronic device by deconstructing, size reduction, crushing, cutting, sawing, compacting, shredding, or refining for the purpose of segregating components, and for the purpose of recovering or recycling those components, and who arranges for the transport of those components to an end user.

     "Brand" means symbols, words, or marks that identify a covered electronic device, rather than any of its components.

     "Business concern" means any corporation, association, firm, partnership, sole proprietorship, trust or other form of commercial organization. "Business concern" shall not include a small business enterprise.

     "Cathode ray tube" means a vacuum tube or picture tube used to convert an electronic signal into a visual image.

     "Computer" means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high-speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage function, and may include both a computer central processing unit and a monitor, but the term shall not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable handheld calculator, a portable digital assistant, or other similar device.

     "Consumer" means a person, State entity, school district, or local government unit who purchases a covered electronic device in a transaction that is a retail sale.  "Consumer" shall not include any business concern purchasing covered electronic devices.

     "Covered electronic device" means a desktop or personal computer, computer monitor, portable computer, printer, fax machine, or television sold to a consumer.  A "covered electronic device" shall not include any of the following: (1) an electronic device that is a part of a motor vehicle or any component part of a
motor vehicle assembled by, or for, a vehicle manufacturer or franchised dealer, including replacement parts for use in a motor vehicle; (2) an electronic device that is functionally or physically a part of a larger piece of equipment designed and intended for use in an industrial, commercial, or medical setting, including diagnostic, monitoring, or control equipment; (3) an electronic device that is contained within a clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator, refrigerator and freezer, microwave oven, conventional oven or range, dishwasher, room air conditioner, dehumidifier, or air purifier; or (4) a telephone of any type unless it contains a video display area greater than four inches measured diagonally.

     "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.

     "Local government unit" means any county or municipality, or any agency, instrumentality, authority or corporation of any county or municipality, including, but not limited to, sewerage, utilities and improvement authorities, or any other political subdivision of the State.

     "Manufacturer" means any person: (1) who manufactures or manufactured covered electronic devices under a brand that it owns or owned or is or was licensed to use, other than a license to manufacture covered electronic devices for delivery exclusively to or at the order of the licensor; (2) who sells or sold covered electronic devices manufactured by others under a brand that the seller owns or owned or is or was licensed to use, other than a license to manufacture covered electronic devices for delivery exclusively to or at the order of the licensor; (3) who manufactures or manufactured covered electronic devices without affixing a brand; (4) who manufactures or manufactured covered electronic devices to which the person affixes or affixed a brand that the person neither owns or owned nor is or was licensed to use; (5) for whose account covered electronic devices manufactured outside the United States are or were imported into the United States, provided however, if, at the time such covered electronic devices are or were imported into the United States, another person has registered as the manufacturer of the brand of the covered electronic devices pursuant to subsection b. of section 9 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.102), then paragraph (5) of this definition shall not apply; or (6) a person who assumes the obligations and responsibilities for any manufacturer pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (5) of this definition.

     "Market share" means a television manufacturer's national sales of televisions or a manufacturer's national sales of covered electronic devices expressed as a percentage of the total [weight] sales of all television manufacturers' national sales of televisions or of all manufacturers' national sales of covered electronic devices, as appropriate, based on the best available public data.

     "Market share in weight" means the total weight of covered electronic devices for which an individual manufacturer is responsible to collect, transport, and recycle, as provided pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105).

     "Monitor" means a separate video display component of a computer, whether sold separately or together with a computer central processing unit and computer box, and includes a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, gas plasma, digital light processing, or other image projection technology, greater than four inches measured diagonally, and its case, interior wires and circuitry, cable to the central processing unit, and power cord.

     "Obligation" means: (1) the [return] market share in weight, identified for an individual manufacturer, as [determined by the department] provided pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105); or (2) the market share in weight, identified for an individual television manufacturer, as determined by the department pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.96).

     "Orphan device" means a covered electronic device for which no manufacturer can be identified, or for which the original manufacturer no longer exists.

     "Person" means an individual, trust firm, joint stock company, business concern, and corporation, including, but not limited to, a government department, partnership, limited liability company, or association.

     "Portable computer" means a computer and video display greater than four inches in size that can be carried as one unit by an individual, including a laptop computer.

     "Program year" means a full calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2011.

     "Purchase" means the taking, by sale, of title in exchange for consideration.

     "Recycling" means any process by which materials which would otherwise become solid waste are collected, separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products. "Recycling" shall not include energy recovery or energy generation by means of incinerating electronic waste whether apart or in combination with other wastes.

     "Registrant" means a manufacturer of covered electronic devices that is in full compliance with the requirements of this act.

     "Retail sales" means the sale of covered electronic devices through sales outlets, via the Internet, mail order, or other means, whether or not the retailer has a physical presence in this State.

     "Retailer" means a person who owns or operates a business that sells new covered electronic devices in this State by any means to a consumer.

     ["Return share" means the proportion of covered electronic devices for which an individual manufacturer is responsible to collect, transport, and recycle, as determined by the department pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105).

     "Return share in weight" means the total weight of covered electronic devices for which an individual manufacturer is responsible to collect, transport, and recycle, as determined by the department pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105).]

     "Sale" or "sell" means any transfer for consideration of title, including, but not limited to, transactions conducted through sales outlets, catalogs, or the Internet, or any other, similar electronic means, and excluding leases.

     "Small business enterprise" means any business which has its principal place of business in this State, is independently owned and operated, and employs the equivalent of fewer than 50 full-time employees.

     "Television" means a stand-alone display system containing a cathode ray tube or any other type of display primarily intended to receive video programming via broadcast, having a viewable area greater than four inches measured diagonally, able to adhere to standard consumer video formats and having the capability of selecting different broadcast channels and support sound capability.

     "Video display" means an output surface having a viewable area greater than four inches when measured diagonally that displays moving graphical images or a visual representation of image sequences or pictures, showing a number of quickly changing images on a screen in fast succession to create the illusion of motion, including, if applicable, a device that is an integral part of the display and cannot be easily removed from the display by the consumer that produces the moving image on the screen.  A "video display" typically uses a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, gas plasma, digital light processing, or other image projection technology.

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.11)

 

     2.    Section 3 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.96) is amended to read as follows:

     3.    a.  Beginning on January 1, 2010, and each January 1 thereafter, each manufacturer of televisions offered for sale for delivery in this State shall register with the department and pay a registration fee of $5,000.  Each television manufacturer's registration and renewal shall include a list of all of the brands under which its televisions are sold.  All fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be allocated to the department to be used in the administration of the "Electronic Waste Management Act," P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.94 et seq.).

     b.    Each registered television manufacturer shall submit an annual renewal of its registration to the department and pay to the department a registration renewal fee of $5,000 by January 1 of each program year. Each registered television manufacturer's renewal shall include an annual report.  All fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be allocated to the department to be used in the administration of P.L.2007, c.347.

     c.     In addition to reporting all brands under which its televisions are sold, regardless of whether the brand is owned or licensed, the registered television manufacturer's annual report shall include the total number and weight of all new televisions sold in the State in the previous program year.  The department shall determine a registered television manufacturer's estimated market share [by] in weight.  A television manufacturer shall be responsible to collect, transport, and recycle its market share in weight.

     d.    A registered television manufacturer shall inform the department, in writing, as soon as it becomes aware that it will cease selling televisions in the State.

     e.     By June 1, 2010, each registered television manufacturer or group of registered television manufacturers shall submit a plan to the department to collect, transport, and recycle used televisions based on the television manufacturer's market share. Every plan shall be filed with a television manufacturer's annual registration, and shall include:

     (1)   Methods that will be used to collect the used televisions including proposed collection services;

     (2)   The processes and methods that will be used to recycle recovered used televisions including a description of the recycling processes that will be used, including the name and location of all authorized recyclers to be directly utilized by the plan;

     (3)   Means that will be utilized to publicize the collection services, including specification of a website or toll-free telephone number that provides information about the registrant's recycling program in sufficient detail to allow consumers to learn how to return their used televisions for recycling, including limitations placed by collection sites on the number of used televisions permitted for drop-off by consumers; and

     (4)   The intention of the registrant to fulfill its obligation through its own operations, either individually or with other registered television manufacturers, or by contract with for-profit or not-for-profit corporations, or local government units.

     The department shall hold confidential any information obtained pursuant to this subsection when shown by a registered television manufacturer that the information, if made public, would divulge competitive business information, methods or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets of the registered television manufacturer.

     Recovered used televisions shall not be sent to prisons for recycling either directly or through intermediaries and nothing in this section shall be construed to allow for the recycling of used televisions by prisoners. Any person committed to a jail, prison, or other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of an offense shall be disqualified from being an authorized recycler.

     By January 1, 2011, each registered television manufacturer or group of registered television manufacturers shall commence its used television recycling program to implement and finance the collection, transportation, and recycling of used televisions.  The used television recycling program shall accept all types and all brands of used televisions, including orphan devices.

     f.     Each registrant's plan or plan jointly submitted by a group of registrants shall be reviewed to determine its compliance with subsection e. of this section and approved by the department.  The department may reject the plan, in whole or in part, and may impose additional requirements as a condition of approval.

     g.    If a registered television manufacturer fails to comply with all the conditions and terms of an approved plan, the registered television manufacturer shall be prohibited from selling or offering for sale televisions in this State.

     h.    Registered television manufacturers that collect, transport, and recycle used televisions in excess of their market share may sell credits to another registrant or apply that excess to the following year's recycling program; provided that no more than 25 percent of a manufacturer's obligation for any program year may be met with credits generated in a prior program year.  No manufacturer or group of manufacturers, as the case may be, may cease implementing its plan required pursuant to subsection e. of this section and approved by the department, during any program year by using credits.

     i.     Nothing in this act is intended to exempt any person from liability the person would otherwise have under applicable law.

     j.     If less than 100 televisions are sold by a manufacturer in the previous program year, the department shall not require a manufacturer to pay the registration fee or registration renewal fee, as appropriate, in the subsequent year, pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section.

     k.    The department shall require each registered television manufacturer to provide curbside collection of used televisions in cities of the first class, and cities of the second class having a population of more than 70,000.

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.1)

 

     3.    Section 3 of P.L.2008, c.130 (C.13:1E-99.96a) is amended to read as follows:

     3.    a.  [The department shall prepare a plan every three years that: (1) establishes used television per-capita collection and recycling goals; and (2) identifies any necessary State actions to expand collection opportunities to achieve the used television per-capita collection and recycling goals.  The plan shall be posted on the department's Internet website and submitted, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L.   , c.   (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

     b.    The department shall prepare an annual report, which shall be posted on the department's Internet website and submitted, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

     The annual report shall include the following:

     (1)   [Progress toward achieving the overall annual total recovery and recycling goals described in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection a. of this section] A complete listing of all collection sites for televisions operating in the State in the prior calendar year, the parties that operated them, and the amount of televisions by weight collected at each site during that prior calendar year; and

     (2)   [An evaluation of the effectiveness of existing used television collection and processing infrastructure] A complete listing of all authorized recyclers recycling televisions pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.96) and the amount of televisions by weight recycled annually.

     c.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2012, c.79).

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.2)

 

     4.    Section 9 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.102) is amended to read as follows:

     9.    a.  (1) By January 30, [2012], 2016 and by each January 30 thereafter, the department shall:

     (a)   [have completed an auditable, statistically valid sampling of covered electronic devices collected from consumers in this State during the previous program year.  The sampling information collected shall consist of a list of brands of covered electronic devices and the weight of covered electronic devices that are identified for each brand.  The department's sampling shall be conducted in accordance with a procedure established by the department and may be conducted by a third-party organization including an authorized recycler, to be determined by the department.  The department may, at its discretion, be present at the sampling and may audit the methodology and the results of the third-party organization.  The costs associated with the sampling shall be recovered from the fees paid by manufacturers to the department] determine the market share for each manufacturer of covered electronic devices; and

     (b)   determine the total weight of covered electronic devices, including orphan devices, collected from consumers in this State during the previous program year.

     (2)   If a manufacturer or group of manufacturers conducts its own sampling of covered electronic devices, the manufacturer or group of manufacturers shall submit a report to the department annually by March 1, beginning the year after the program is initiated.  The report shall include:

     (a)   the results of an auditable, statistically valid sampling of covered electronic devices collected from consumers in this State by the manufacturer or group of manufacturers during the previous program year.  The sampling information reported shall consist of a list of brands of covered electronic devices and the weight of covered electronic devices that are identified for each brand; and

     (b)   the total weight of covered electronic devices, including orphan devices, collected from consumers in this State by the manufacturer or group of manufacturers during the previous program year and documentation verifying collection and recycling of such devices.

     b.    By February 1, 2010, and each January 1 thereafter, each manufacturer of covered electronic devices offered for sale for delivery in this State shall register with the department and pay a registration fee of $5,000. Any manufacturer to whom the department provides notification of a [return share and return share in weight] market share pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105) and who has not previously filed a registration shall file a registration with the department within 30 days of receiving such notification from the department.  Each manufacturer's registration and renewal shall include a list of all of the manufacturer's brands of covered electronic devices.

     The provisions of this section shall not apply to any manufacturer or retailer of televisions offered for sale for delivery in this State.

     c.     If less than 100 covered electronic devices are sold by a manufacturer in the previous program year, the department shall not require a manufacturer to pay the registration fee or registration renewal fee, as appropriate, in the subsequent year, pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.4)

 

     5.    Section 10 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.103) is amended to read as follows:

     10.  a.  [By June 1, 2010, each] Each manufacturer to whom the department provides [, by April 2, 2010, a return] a market share [in weight] that is greater than zero shall submit a plan to the department to collect, transport, and recycle covered electronic devices.

     b.    Each manufacturer to whom the department provides [, by February 15, 2012 or] by February 15 of any year [thereafter], a [return share in weight] market share that is greater than zero shall, by March 15 of that year, comply with the requirements of subsection a. of this section.

     c.     An individual manufacturer submitting a plan pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall collect, transport, and recycle its [return] market share in weight.

     d.    A group of manufacturers jointly submitting a plan pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall collect, transport, and recycle the sum of the obligations of each participating manufacturer.

     e.     Every plan shall be filed with a manufacturer's annual registration, and shall include:

     (1)   Methods that will be used to collect the covered electronic devices including proposed collection services;

     (2)   The processes and methods that will be used to recycle recovered covered electronic devices including a description of the recycling processes that will be used, including the name and location of all authorized recyclers to be directly utilized by the plan;

     (3)   The processes and methods that will be used to recycle recovered covered electronic devices which originated from transactions between business concerns;

     (4)   Means that will be utilized to publicize the collection services, including specification of a website or toll-free telephone number that provides information about the manufacturer's program in sufficient detail to allow consumers to learn how to return their covered electronic devices for recycling; and

     (5)   The intention of the registrant to fulfill its obligation through operation of its own plan, either individually or with other manufacturers.

     The department shall require each registrant to provide curbside collection of covered electronic devices in cities of the first class, and cities of the second class having a population of more than 70,000.

     The department shall hold confidential any information obtained pursuant to this subsection when shown by a manufacturer that the information, if made public, would divulge competitive business information, methods or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets of the manufacturer.

     Recovered covered electronic devices shall not be sent to prisons for recycling either directly or through intermediaries and nothing in this section shall be construed to allow for the recycling of covered electronic devices by prisoners. Any person committed to a jail, prison, or other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of an offense shall be disqualified from engaging in the manual or mechanical separation of covered electronic devices to recover components and commodities contained therein for the purpose of re-use or recycling.

     By January 1, 2011, each manufacturer or group of manufacturers required to submit a plan, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, shall commence its covered electronic device recycling program to implement and finance the collection, transportation, and recycling of covered electronic devices other than televisions.  The covered electronic device recycling program shall accept all types and all brands of used covered electronic devices, including orphan devices.

     f.     Each manufacturer's plan or plan jointly submitted by a group of manufacturers shall be reviewed to determine its compliance with subsection e. of this section and approved by the department.  The department may reject the plan, in whole or in part, and may impose additional requirements as a condition of approval.

     g.    If a manufacturer fails to comply with all the conditions and terms of an approved plan, the manufacturer shall be prohibited from selling or offering for sale in this State a covered electronic device.

     h.    Manufacturers that collect, transport, and recycle covered electronic devices in excess of their obligation may sell credits to another registrant or apply that excess to the following year's recycling obligation; provided that no more than 25 percent of a manufacturer's obligation for any program year may be met with credits generated in a prior program year.  No manufacturer or group of manufacturers, as the case may be, may cease implementing its plan required pursuant to subsection e. of this section and approved by the department, during any program year by using credits.

     i.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.130)

     j.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.130)

     k.    Nothing in this act is intended to exempt any person from liability the person would otherwise have under applicable law.

     l.     The provisions of this section shall not apply to any manufacturer or retailer of televisions offered for sale for delivery in this State.

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.5)

 

     6.    Section 12 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.105) is amended to read as follows:

     12.  a.  (1) The department shall determine the [return share] market share for each program year for each manufacturer [by dividing the weight of covered electronic devices identified for each manufacturer by the total weight of covered electronic devices identified for all manufacturers.  For the first program year, the return share of covered electronic devices identified for each manufacturer shall be based on the best available public return share data from the United States, including data from other states, for covered electronic devices from consumers.  For the second and each subsequent program year, the return share of covered electronic devices identified for each manufacturer shall be based on the most recent samplings of covered electronic devices conducted in this State pursuant to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.102)] based upon publicly available data .

     (2)   The department shall determine the [return share in weight] estimated market share in weight for each program year for each manufacturer for whom a [return share] market share is determined pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection by multiplying the [return share] market share for each such manufacturer by the total weight in pounds of covered electronic devices, including orphan devices, collected from consumers the previous program year plus an additional amount expected to be collected in the next program year to be determined by the department based upon retail sales of covered electronic devices in the preceding program year[For the first program year, the total weight in pounds of covered electronic devices shall be based on the best available public weight data from the United States, including data from other states, for covered electronic devices from consumers.  For the second and each subsequent program year, the total weight in pounds of covered electronic devices shall be based on the total weight of covered electronic devices, including orphan devices, determined by the department pursuant to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.102)].

     (3)   [By April 2, 2011, the] The department shall provide each manufacturer for whom a [return] market share is determined pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with its [return] market share and [its return] an estimate of its market share in weight [for the first program year.  Annually thereafter,] by February 15 [, beginning in 2013, the department shall provide each manufacturer for whom a return share is determined pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with its return share and its return share in weight for the second and subsequent program years] annually for the program year.  A manufacturer shall be responsible for its market share in weight for the program year.  Should the total weight in pounds collected in any program year exceed the estimated collection amount, each manufacturer shall be responsible for its proportionate share so that the manufacturer's obligation shall be its market share in weight based upon the actual weight of covered electronic devices collected in the program year .

     b.    (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.130)

     c.     (1) The department shall ensure that [at least one] sufficient numbers and locations of electronics collection [opportunity is] opportunities are available in each county throughout the State and in such a manner as to be convenient, to the maximum extent practicable and feasible, to all consumers in the county.

     (2)   The department shall ensure that collection sites do not place unreasonable limits on the number of covered electronic devices permitted for drop-off by consumers.

     d.    (1) Beginning on January 1, 2011, the department shall maintain a list of registrants and the brands reported in each manufacturer's registration, and post the list on the department's Internet website that is updated at least once a month.

     (2)   The department shall organize and coordinate public education and outreach.

     e.     [The department shall prepare a plan every three years that: (1) establishes per-capita collection and recycling goals; and (2) identifies any necessary State actions to expand collection opportunities to achieve the per-capita collection and recycling goals.  The plan shall be posted on the department's Internet website and submitted, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L.    ,c.   (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

     f.     The department shall prepare an annual report, which shall be posted on the department's Internet website and submitted, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

     The annual report shall include the following:

     (1)   The total weight of covered electronic devices collected in the State the previous calendar year;

     (2)   [Progress toward achieving the overall annual total recovery and recycling goals described in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection e. of this section ;

     (3)A complete listing of all collection sites for covered electronic devices operating in the State in the prior calendar year, the parties that operated them, and the amount of material by weight collected at each site; and

     [(4) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the education and outreach program; and

     (5)   An evaluation of the existing collection and processing infrastructure]  (3)  A complete listing of all authorized recyclers recycling covered electronic devices pursuant to this section and the amount of material by weight recycled annually.

     g.    (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2012, c.79).

     h.    The provisions of this section shall not apply to any manufacturer or retailer of televisions offered for sale for delivery in this State.

(cf:  P.L.2012, c.79, s.6)

 

     7.    (New section)  a.  By February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the operator of every collection location identified in each manufacturer's plan submitted pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.96) or section 10 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.103) shall identify the total weight of covered electronic devices collected in the prior calendar year at each collection location.

     b.    By February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, every authorized recycler identified in each manufacturer's plan submitted pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.96) or section 10 of P.L.2007, c.347 (C.13:1E-99.103) shall identify the total weight of covered electronic devices delivered in the prior calendar year for recycling at the authorized recycler. 

 

     8.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would make certain changes to the State's electronic waste recycling laws.  The bill would require each manufacturer to provide for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its market share in weight of all covered electronics collected in a program year.  This requirement replaces the current law's mandate that each manufacturer provide for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its "return share in weight" as estimated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  The data required to perform the return share calculation is not widely available.  The DEP determinations of the manufacturers' obligations under the law have underestimated the actual amount collected.

     The changes to the law made by the bill would assure that manufacturers provide a free and convenient electronic waste recycling program that provides for all of the covered electronic devices that are collected.  The bill would change the definition of "consumer" to include State entities, school districts, and local government units, and would include fax machines and printers in the definition of "covered electronic device."

     The bill would also require manufacturers to provide curbside collection of covered electronic devices in cities of the first class, and those cities of the second class having a population of more than 70,000.  Further, the bill would require that the operator of each collection site and each authorized recycler identified in a manufacturer's plan submitted to the department identify the total weight of covered electronic devices collected or recycled, as appropriate. 

     The bill would streamline the DEP's planning and reporting requirements by requiring an annual report with a complete listing of all collection locations for covered electronic devices and for televisions, the parties that operate them, the amount of material by weight collected at each site, and a complete listing of all recyclers that recycle covered electronic devices, together with the amount of material by weight recycled annually.