Previous iterations of the Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act have struggled to gain traction. | Sreytoch Lann/Shutterstock
Federal legislators have reintroduced legislation banning exports of untested, non-working electronics, a move that could significantly alter the way that many e-scrap companies handle material.
Bills that mandate OEMs to release information and tools to ease electronics refurbishment have been introduced in legislatures across the country, but most of the proposals have struggled to gain traction.
Electronics manufacturers are proposing a nationwide point-of-sale fee to fund recycling of CRT devices, an industry group announced last week.
The debate over the merits and pitfalls of e-scrap exporting has been alive and well for decades now, but one thing has remained clear: Choosing to ship material halfway around the world adds a thick layer of complication to the basic goal of managing the domestic e-scrap stream.
The federal tax bill that passed Congress this week retains tax incentives and exemptions that could boost the recycling sector.
A key unknown during the Congressional tax negotiations was the fate of tax-exempt private activity bonds, which are frequently utilized in the solid waste and recycling industry. They are retained in the final tax bill.
Tax reform legislation moving through Congress could help electronics recycling companies deduct equipment expenditures.
Tax reform bills approved by the U.S. House and Senate include sweeping cuts to business taxes, and recycling industry associations are applauding the business-friendly measures.
Rhode Island’s e-scrap law received some updates this month, requiring certain manufacturers to join the state-run collection program while allowing more flexibility for OEMs running independent plans.
