The bipartisan 2023 Wisconsin Act 108 altered the state’s e-scrap recycling program, E-Cycle Wisconsin, to include more items and to set targets differently. | Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock
An update to Wisconsin’s e-scrap recycling program will modify how manufacturer’s targets are set and expand what the program covers, among other changes. Continue Reading
SB 1596 excludes motor vehicles, off-road vehicles, farming equipment, medical devices, HVAC systems, solar panels or solar energy storage systems, video game consoles, electrical energy storage systems or electric toothbrushes. | bobpool/Shutterstock
A bill to ensure that consumers have the right to repair most electronics and appliances is on its way to the desk of Oregon’s governor.
Multiple groups are calling for the Federal Trade Commission to set a national right-to-repair standard. | Mark Van Scyoc/Shutterstock
Advocates for electronics repair last month delivered a petition asking the Federal Trade Commission to craft rules to prohibit manufacturers from restricting repair of their products. Continue Reading
The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1,000 comments supporting or opposing a recent petition calling for federal right-to-repair rules. | Yekatseryna Netuk/Shutterstock
Whether they were small repair business owners, industry associations or passionate individuals, hundreds of commenters on a recent right-to-repair petition to the Federal Trade Commission broadly agreed that consumers ought to have more options for fixing their devices and using them longer. Continue Reading
Officials at EPA hope that a clear standard for handling photovoltaic panels will increase the rate at which they are collected and processed. | Heinz Trebuth/Shutterstock
In response to electric power industry requests, the EPA is looking to classify solar panels as universal waste. The agency is also working to create a category of universal waste specifically for lithium-ion batteries. Continue Reading
Supporters of SB 244 pose in front of a pile of laptops and other devices during a rally. | Andy Smith, Courtesy of CALPIRG
California’s right-to-repair bill for electronics awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, and supporters are lauding the years of work it took to get to this point. Continue Reading
Computing giant HP has joined the ranks of companies such as Apple in supporting California consumers’ right to fix their own devices. | BalkansCat/Shutterstock
California’s right-to-repair bill is drawing more high-profile backing, with HP becoming the latest OEM to publicly endorse it. Continue Reading
A federal purchasing rule handed down last week directs agencies to buy sustainable products and avoid those that contain PFAS. | Petrmalinak/Shutterstock
The federal government has announced plans to further prioritize American-made sustainable products and services in its purchasing, including recycled content. Continue Reading
Opinions on potentially restricting e-scrap exports varied, with some arguing such a move would hinder sales and others arguing it would bolster domestic job creation. | Katherine Welles/Shutterstock
In a wide-ranging hearing on electronics recycling and reuse, several U.S. senators heard discussion about how export restrictions affect U.S. industry. Continue Reading
LCD tubes recovered from 5R’s Ladysmith, Wisc. facility. | Courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
At his current rate, the former CEO of 5R Processors will fully pay off his $2 million in court-ordered e-scrap abandonment restitution in roughly 1,200 years. Knowing that, Wisconsin lawmakers just approved allocating another $2 million in public funds to clean up the mess. Continue Reading