Measure was One of Numerous Bills to be Pocket Vetoed at End of Last Legislative Session
(TRENTON) – Assemblyman John F. McKeon has re-introduced legislation that would make various changes to the state’s electronic waste recycling laws. The measure was one of numerous bills to become subject to a pocket veto last month.
McKeon said the legislation was sponsored at the request of the state Department of Environmental Protection and, now, many counties have begun to put an end to electronic waste recycling beginning the first of this month.
“The situation has gone from bad to worse. The intention was for New Jersey to take a proactive stance on preserving electronic waste recycling programs in the state to now, potentially having to reinstate these programs in some counties,” McKeon said. “‘Too many bills’ is not an excuse to avoid the responsibility of reviewing each and every bill.
“The Electronic Waste Management Act was a preemptive measure to encourage municipalities to continue programs that recycle various dangerous waste materials.”
The bill (A-2375) requires each manufacturer of “covered electronic waste devices” to provide for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its market share in weight of all covered electronic devices in a program. The requirement would be to replace the current law’s mandate that each manufacturer provide for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its “return share in weight” as estimated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“Recycling, especially of the new and dangerous materials in “e-waste,” minimizes damage to our environment” McKeon said. “Recycled materials consume less energy than using virgin materials to make new products, which means less greenhouse gases are emitted because less energy is consumed. This bill would have helped municipalities would have been doing exactly this right now if the bill had been reviewed and signed by the Governor.”
More bill information can be found here under the last session’s bill number (A-4763).
The measure will be up for a vote on Monday in the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. McKeon will testify during the committee meeting on Monday, which will be held in committee room 9, 3rd floor, Statehouse Annex.