Date: 02/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1282

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1282 to the CommitteePASS



02:58 PM -- House Bill 09-1282

Representative Fischer presented House Bill 09-1282 which creates a 19-member Electric Device Recycling Task Force. The bill requires the task force to submit a report to the General Assembly with recommendations regarding the implementation of electronic device recycling program. The following witnesses testified.

03:19 PM -- Anne Peters, Grace Stone, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Ms. Peters stated that she has been involved in waste recycling for approximately 10 years. She provided information to the committee on some of the toxic materials that are contained in electronic equipment. She provided statistical data on the amount of e-waste, or electronic material waste, in Colorado. She stated that at least 15 states have established an electronic device recycling task force to create a sustainable electronic waste recycling program.

03:34 PM -- Margy Christianson, Waste Management, Inc. expressed some concern with the bill. She stated that she is concerned that the bill would assign liability to landfills if they accept a banned material, or that the landfill would have to play an enforcement role concerning the banned material. She stated that the bill puts a presumption of responsibility on the landfill. While they do support recycling, she stated she would like some more clarification in the bill regarding the responsibilities of a landfill.

03:41 PM -- Michael Wright, Guaranteed Recycling Experts, testified in support of the bill. He stated that he has been in the recycling business for about five years, specifically in the area of electronic device recycling. He stated that a significant portion of the electronic material can be recycled and reused in some other kind of manufacturing process. He stated that there is a concern about various recycling companies that ship their materials to third world countries where the materials are not properly recycled.

03:54 PM -- Dag Adamson, Lifespan Technology Recycling, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the need for the bill stating that it will allow for all interested stakeholders to be involved. He stated that the task force will learn from best practices in other states and create the best program in Colorado.

04:04 PM -- Dan Matsch, Eco-Cycle, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Matsch stated Eco-Cycle recycles over a million pounds of electronic waste a year. He stated that a task force would be beneficial to bring many different stakeholders to the table and produce a comprehensive plan. Some committee members suggested that the composition of the task force contain more representation from local government and those directly involved in recycling, and less representation from state legislators.

04:18 PM -- Tess Heffernan, Legislative Policy Manager, City of Fort Collins, testified in support of the bill. She spoke to an ordinance in Fort Collins that prohibits dumping e-waste into the city's landfill. She stated that the ordinance has been received well by the community and that there is clearly support for e-waste recycling. She encouraged passage of the bill to promote a statewide initiative.

04:24 PM -- Marjorie Griek, Colorado Association for Recycling, testified in support of the bill. She stated that there are a lot of issues and questions surrounding e-waste recycling. She stated that the task force will provide a chance for stakeholders to weigh in and discuss these issues.


04:29 PM

Representative Fischer provided a wrap-up to the bill.
BILL:HB09-1282
TIME: 04:32:13 PM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1282 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:40 PM

The committee took a brief recess.