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I�� Request for Council Action Date: Ite m Number: �°y Department Approval Manager Approval Agenda Section �'I��1a�111 r��`Ei�a _ — . .._� ....-- �i�Tlr ��S['!"�I}[1015: Resolution Requesting a Legislative Solution for Dealing with Electronic Waste Background: Electronic waste, or e-waste, is any waste that has a circuit board or a cathode ray tube (CRT). This includes the followingproducts: � Televisions • Computer monitors, Cp�CJs and peripherals such as printers, computer mice and keyboards e Audio, video and telecommunication equipment such as stereos, VCRs and cell phones Most T"Vs and computer monitors contain 2 to 8 pounds of toxic lead. Many electronics contain other toxic materials, such as mercury and cadmium. If any of these contaminants gets into our rivers, streams or lakes, they can harm our health and damage the environment. Minnesotans own an estimated six million TVs and three million computer monitors. The State banned disposing of CRTs in the garbage as of July 1,2006. However, the State did not adopt a program on how to deal with e-waste despite a Legislative taskforce recommendation to establish a program that shared the responsibility for the management of CRTs with manufacturers, retailers, or counties. Since the ban became effective there has been much confusion in the public as to how they can properly dispose of their electronics. Illegal dumping and its associated costs have increased in many cities, counties and townships. Currently, most residents are paying by the pound to get rid of electronics, if they can find a location that collects them for recycling. We do not know how many were disposed of illegally or are still in homes ready for disposal. The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, which is comprised of representatives from the six county metro area, along with the Association of Minnesota Counties and more than 60 metro area cities and townships have passed resolutions calling on the Legislature to enact a system to deal with e-waste that includes a shared responsibilityamong manufacturers, retailers, generators and local governments. The SWMCB and the AMC are actively lobbying the legislature to approve this system to deal with e-waste. Council Action Rec�uested Approve the attached resolution supporting a Legislative solution to dealing with e-waste that includes provisions to require manufacturerresponsibility, reliable and convenient collection options, responsible r�� a ir� � of CRTs, a mechanism to address the backlog of CRTs, and a funding method that does noi require substantial end-of-life fees.