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What
is California 'WEEE'?
SB 20: Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003
SB 50: Emergency Amendment to SB 20
SB 20 & 50: DTSC guidance
California
SB 20 and SB 50 contain both
RoHS and
WEEE-like provisions (since
these directives were adopted by the EU, RoHS has become shorthand
for regulating the hazardous substances used in electrical and
electronic equipment, while WEEE refers to regulating the disposal of
this equipment).
California WEEE provisions took effect on
January
1, 2005. They are summarized below:
SB 20 applies only to
CRT, LCD and plasma screens
larger
than four inches measured diagonally. SB 50 extended
coverage to products refurbished by the manufacturer for
retail sale
(to
date, repeated efforts to
expand its scope
to mirror European RoHS have failed).
Video displays in electronic medical devices, specialty
equipment such as thermostats and heating regulators, motor vehicles,
and large commercial or industrial equipment
were
specifically excluded
by SB 20.
Video displays in washers,
dryers, refrigerators, freezers, ovens, air conditioners,
dehumidifiers, and air purifiers were excluded by SB 50.
At point of purchase, consumers pay (and retailers collect) a
recycling
fee on covered electronic devices. The
fee ranges from $6 to $10, depending upon the size of the
screen. The
recycling fee has been collected in California since January 1, 2005.
At end of life, the collection of covered
electronic waste must be free and convenient
to the consumer. The recycling fee
funds e-waste recovery payments to
authorized collectors and e-waste recycling payments. The
California
Integrated Waste Management Board currently pays 48¢ per pound for
electronic waste
received from recyclers.
Manufacturers
of covered electronic products must
notify
retailers and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) when a device is subject to the recycling fee.
They must provide consumer information on how to recycle the products. They
must file annual
reports with the Board
specifying the number of covered
devices sold in California, the total amount of hazardous substances
contained in the devices, the company's reduction
in use of hazardous materials from year before, their increase in use of
recyclable materials from year before, and their efforts to design more
environmentally friendly products.
SB 20 also contains restrictions on the export of electronic waste to foreign countries.
AB 2901: Cell Phone Recycling Act
Took effect on
July
1, 2006.
Retailers of cell phones
must take back their customers' old
cell phones for proper disposal and recycling at no cost to the
consumer.
AB 1125: Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act
Took effect on
July 1,
2006.
Retailers of
rechargeable batteries must take back
their consumers' used rechargeable batteries for proper disposal and recycling
at no cost to the consumer. Retailers and grocery stores with less than
$1 million annual revenue are exempt.
This summary is
intended to give you an easy-to-understand overview and does not
constitute legal advice. The actual standard in the original language
should be reviewed and used for all business, legal, and product
compliance purposes.
Should you need assistance
in assessing how California's environmental legislation will affect your
manufacturing company, we stand ready
to help you. Just
email
us or give us a call at 972-679-8996 for a timely and personalized response.
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