Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider E-Waste Bill

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this makes no sense 10/9/2009 9:50:00 AM There is no way that the maufacturers can control what a consumer does with a product once the consumer decides to get rid of it. The only real way to control a waste stream is the same system used for bottles and cans: put a deposit on each piece and the consumer gets it back when they turn the product in for recycling. Why are politicians so stupid?
Politicians aren't stupid - They think you are 10/9/2009 11:58:00 AM They think that you are stupid enough to think that this won't affect the cost of the product. The manufacturers will simply add the disposal cost to product. You pay. You pay for the overhead of the disposal process as well as the disposal itself.
Manufacturing should take responsibilty 10/9/2009 12:16:00 PM We need to tax the manufacturer. I'm tired of cheap Chinese stuff that last 1 day longer than the warranty and then it ends up in our landfills. Yes something needs to be done --this is probably not the solution---
The Devil's in the Details 10/9/2009 1:12:00 PM Good idea, but consider that the government would want to tax the deposit amount that manufactures would have to add to the price of the product so this solution would significantly increase the product cost. If no tax were added, the deposit concept would give the manufacturers a moving pot of interest free funding, but how do you protect it so that it is available when the units are returned and by whom as many are bought on-line. Once they are collected, what do they do with them? OSHA and the EPA are so rigorous, there is unlikely to be a domestic recycler and there has been an on-going flap about foreign businesses recycling these units and killing peasants. What about the new government mandated high efficiency bulbs? Not only will we not be able to make anything any more, we won't be able to buy anything.
Wisconsin Lawmaker E-Waste Bill 10/9/2009 1:25:00 PM What a funny idea. Imagine the waste of time, energy and expense trying to track a toaster oven purchased in Wisconsin and given to a NY person as a gift. 8 Yrs later the NY person wants to throw it away. The gigantic tracking and communications problems are horrendous. A skit writer would have a field day writing such scenarios.
Wisconsin Lawmaker E-Waste Bill 10/10/2009 11:41:00 AM It is a great idea - at least to get someone's attention. Why should the consumer be burdened with complicated waste issues? Ever sit in one of those mile -long recycling lines, wasting a half a day just trying to throw out the trash? I didn't make the damn mercury-filled "efficient" light bulbs and lead-filled electronic gear. Why should I have to deal with issues not under my control? How about I do like a lot of others do and just go dump the stuff in a ditch somewhere out in the sticks? If the manufactruers dont like being legislated then why don't they get their trade associations to come up with socially acceptable solutions?
RE: Wisconsin E-Waste 10/12/2009 12:35:00 PM Interesting range of commentary here. First, any fee or tax on a manufacturer of anything ultimately becomes a part of the price of the goods, and we know who pays that...the consumer. The way the proposed law is framed however, it appears to be designed to create a revenue stream for the state. No surprise there! Secondly, there's the matter of mercury and lead. Since both of these metals are elements (Lead is Pb and mercury is Hg)they occur naturally in the environment, and cannot be manufactured. The amount of mercury in a green marked fluorescent lamp is too little to see with the naked eye, but is essential to making the product work. Lamp manufacturers have been working for years to find a suitable substitute, as mercury is very expensive, but have not yet had any success. Third, metallic lead constitutes an infinately small part of any electronic equipment. Notice what a very small amount of solder is needed in current equipment, due largely to SMT devices being used. And by the way, the largest part of solder these days contains no lead, but is generally composed of tin and antimony. Not as easy to use, but lead free. And finally, "socially acceptable" sums it up. Not "safe" or even "less toxic" but "socially acceptable". This is first cousin to "politically correct". Given the "horrible" hazards our forefathers were exposed to with these elements (not to mention minerals)everywhere in their lives, it is a wonder any of us are here today! OLr maybe, they were just more knowledgeable and prudent in their lives.

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