Billions of dollars of valuable metals sitting in dumps, heavy metals leaching into groundwater, hundreds of landfill fires caused by lithium-ion batteries: these are just a few of the issues linked to people tossing phones or batteries into the trash. eAnd that’s not to mention junk drawers full of outdated electronics owners aren’t sure what to do with.
A bid to manage these issues is behind HF3566, that would replace the state’s 17-year-old electronic waste recycling program with one that would recycle every device. The bill would expand the definition of electronic waste, provide free collection, and create incentives to divert electronics from the waste stream.
It was approved as amended by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee and sent to the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee. Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul), the bill sponsor, said it builds on the current system, which was established at the same time the iPhone came out. Many devices aren’t covered, and manufacturers don’t bear the full cost of collection and recycling, meaning many people get charged when they dispose of their devices.