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Bill > HR2791


US HR2791

US HR2791
Responsible Electronics Recycling Act


summary

Introduced
07/23/2013
In Committee
09/24/2013
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015

Introduced Session

113th Congress

Bill Summary

Responsible Electronics Recycling Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to: (1) prohibit the export of restricted electronic waste to countries that are not members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the European Union (EU), or Liechtenstein; (2) require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and promulgate procedures for identifying certain electronic equipment as well as additional restricted toxic materials contained in such equipment which poses a potential hazard to human health or the environment; and (3) establish criminal penalties for knowingly exporting restricted electronic waste in violation of this Act. Allows certain exceptions to such export ban. Defines "restricted electronic waste" to include electronic equipment (excluding parts of a motor vehicle), such as computers, televisions, printers, copiers, video game systems, telephones, and similar used electronic products, that contain cathode ray tubes, batteries, switches, and other parts containing lead, cadmium, mercury, organic solvents, hexavalent chromium, beryllium, or other toxic ingredients. Requires persons who handle restricted electronic wastes to permit appropriate EPA and state officials access to such wastes upon request. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive research application program to provide grants for research in the recovering and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements found in electronic devices.

AI Summary

This bill, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, aims to prevent the export of certain hazardous electronic waste, referred to as "restricted electronic waste," to countries not belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the European Union (EU), with an exception for Liechtenstein. Restricted electronic waste includes items like computers, televisions, and phones that contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, though exceptions exist for functional items intended for reuse, de minimis amounts of certain materials, and specific warranty or recall situations. The bill mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator develop procedures to identify additional hazardous electronic equipment and toxic materials, and it establishes criminal penalties for knowingly exporting restricted electronic waste in violation of these new rules, while also allowing for inspections by EPA and state officials. Furthermore, the Secretary of Energy is directed to create a grant program to fund research into recovering and recycling critical minerals and rare earth elements from electronic devices.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

Sponsors (23)

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment. (on 09/24/2013)

bill text


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