EENews.net - February 9, 2009
The House Science and Technology Committee will meet Wednesday in search of innovative ways to deal with electronic waste. Lawmakers are currently crafting legislation that would support research into better recycling technologies and the use of more environmentally sensitive materials, according to a committee staff member. The problem of disposing discarded electronics such as computers and televisions has been growing as new products rapidly come on the market and consumers discard old models. Those discards end up in the waste stream, where chemicals and other toxic materials break down. According to U.S. EPA, there were 1.9 million to 2.2 million tons of used or unwanted electronics in 2005, of which 345,000 to 379,000 tons were recycled. EPA estimates electronic waste is growing two to three times faster than any other waste stream ... Schedule: The hearing is Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. in 2318 Rayburn. Witnesses: Valerie Thomas, professor at Georgia Tech's Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Jeff Omelchuck, executive director for the Green Electronics Council; Paul Anastas, director at Yale University's Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering; Philip Bond, president of the Information Technology Association of America; and Willie Cade, founder and CEO of PC Rebuilders and Recyclers' Home of the Computers for Schools Program.
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