Bill Summary for Bill Number SB12-133

Date: 03/14/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-133

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-133 to the Committee	PASS

11:27 AM

The committee returned from recess.

11:28 AM -- Senate Bill 12-133

Representative Coram, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-133, concerning the diversion of electronic devices from landfills. Representative Coram discussed the need to keep waste from electronic devices, also known as "e-waste," from being disposed of in landfills.

11:30 AM

Shaun Pearman, representing Action Recycling, testified against the bill and discussed problems with the banning e-waste in landfills, which would become effective July 1, 2013, according to the bill. Mr. Pearman discussed ongoing litigation involving R2 and E-Steward, which are listed by the bill to adopt rules concerning recycling standards and allowable certifications of recyclers. He discussed the landfill ban under the bill and talked about the need to include all e-waste instead of having some exceptions in state law. Mr. Pearman addressed questions from the committee concerning the loss of local "tipping" fees for disposing of e-waste by recycling centers and the state oversight by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) over landfills and e-waste recycling centers.

11:44 AM

Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC), testified against the bill and talked about e-waste in county landfills. Ms. Orf responded to questions from the committee and discussed problems with e-waste and the cost of transporting e-waste from rural counties in Colorado.

11:50 AM

Charles Johnson, representing the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission within the CDPHE, addressed the committee to provide information on the bill and responded to questions from the committee concerning whether a state certification of recyclers is needed. Committee discussion ensued concerning provisions in the bill that allow the Department of Corrections to refurbish e-waste products for reuse. Mr. Johnson responded to questions concerning pollution caused by e-waste in landfills and discussed prepared amendment L.006 (Attachment D).

11:58 AM

Marjorie Griek, Executive Director of the Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR), testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to keep e-waste out of landfills. Ms. Griek discussed the implementation of the landfill ban and talked about the process for counties to become exempt from the ban. Ms. Griek explained that 17 other states have bans on e-waste in landfills and discussed the statewide education program that would be implemented under the bill.

12:05 PM

Andy O'Riley, representing Blue Star Recyclers, testified in support of the bill and explained the importance of improving access to electronic devices in order to create more jobs for recycling companies. Mr. O'Riley responded to questions concerning the recycling industry and the potential for more jobs for processing e-waste in the state.

12:14 PM

Eric Anderson, representing Metech Recycling, testified in support of the bill and discussed the jobs created in the recycling industry to process e-waste. Mr. Anderson addressed questions from the committee concerning e-waste collection events and the costs of transporting e-waste from rural areas in the state.

12:18 PM

Henry Renteria-Vigil, representing R2 Stewardship, testified in support of the bill and discussed the relationship between e-waste and job growth in the recycling industry. Mr. Vigil responded to questions from the committee and discussed the value of e-waste and the importance of certification for recycling companies that collect e-waste.

12:30 PM

Moira Cullen, representing Goodwill Industries of Denver, testified in support of the bill.

12:30 PM

Michelle Fuller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and talked about the need to keep e-waste out of landfills in Colorado.

12:32 PM

Representative Coram made closing comments on the bill. Discussion from the committee ensued concerning various issued in the bill.


BILL:	SB12-133
TIME:	12:36:17 PM
MOVED:	Labuda
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-133 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0, with 2 excused.
SECONDED:	Lee
		VOTE
	Balmer	Excused
	Conti	Excused
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:38 PM

The committee adjourned.