Prohibits disposal of cathode ray tubes in mixed municipal solid waste.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that outdated computer equipment poses disposal dilemmas. The cathode ray tubes in computer monitors and televisions contain traces of lead, phosphorous, cadmium, barium, and mercury. When a cathode ray tube is disposed of in a landfill, the chance of breakage is very high. When broken, the hazardous materials pose an environmental risk that could contaminate soil and water.

In 1998, more than twenty million computers hit obsolescence, but only eleven per cent were recycled. By 2005, three hundred fifty million machines will have reached obsolescence, with at least fifty-five million of them expected to end up in landfills, according to the National Safety Council. While the United States Environment Protection Agency regulates large producers of electronic waste, small businesses and consumers are exempted from the regulations.

States and local communities are creating solutions to the potential problems caused by improper disposal of cathode ray tubes. Massachusetts recently became the first state to forbid the disposal of computer monitors in landfills. California's environmental agencies are encouraging consumers to donate or recycle. Florida has found that cathode ray tubes are the second largest source of lead in Florida's municipal solid waste stream, just behind lead acid batteries. In response, Florida has developed a strategy for managing end-of-life cathode ray tubes that aims to specify the regulatory framework, promote the recycling infrastructure, pursue pilot programs to evaluate various management options and to execute a state recycling contract for use by Florida governmental agencies.

To protect our fragile environment, Hawaii must recognize the need to prohibit inappropriate disposal of cathode ray tubes and establish an environmentally sound solution similar to the lead acid batteries recycling program.

§342I-A Definition. As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Cathode ray tube" means an intact glass tube used to provide the visual display in televisions, computer monitors, oscilloscopes and similar scientific equipment, but does not include the other components of an electronic product containing a cathode ray tube even if the product and the cathode ray tube are disassembled.

§342I-B Cathode ray tubes; disposal prohibited. No person may place a used cathode ray tube in a mixed municipal solid waste.

§342I-C Enforcement. (a) The department of health shall adopt rules to provide for a cathode ray tube special wastes recycling program.

(b) The department shall enforce this part."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.