(Please put your organizations letter head here and address to the Governor. Copy and paste this into a word document.)

Senator Joe Simitian, Chair
Senate Environmental Quality Committee
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: 916-322-3519

RE: AB 218 (Saldaña) Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electronics -- Support

Dear Senator Simitian,

We urge your support of Assembly Bill 218 by Assembly Member Lori Saldaña, which will expand existing California law to require manufacturers to phase out the use of specified, non-essential hazardous materials in most consumer electronics, consistent with provisions of the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directive.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has found that most electronic devices 'exhibit the characteristics of toxicity,' and such devices are banned from disposal in solid waste landfills. Moreover, an analysis by the California Integrated Waste Management Board reveals that Californians discard of more than 515,000 tons of these toxic electronics annually. The cost to local agencies of properly managing this toxic waste stream would exceed $275 million annually.

While California has and will continue to enact and promote policies and programs to increase the recycling of these devices, the most logical and cost effective strategy is to follow the lead of the Europeans and phase out the use of toxics in the first place.

There is little argument that most electronics contain a myriad of toxic materials, including lead, mercury, and cadmium. Human exposure to these carcinogenic substances can result in damage to the nervous, kidney, neurological and reproductive systems. For this reason, California has already banned the mercury and lead use in a wide variety of consumer products. According to the U.S. EPA, approximately 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic wastes.

This measure builds on existing California law and will prohibit the sale of any electronic device in the state that cannot be sold in Europe due to their toxicity. California has a responsibility to protect public health and the environment from the exposure of harmful and toxic materials. Following the European ROHS directive allows for the opportunity to achieve this objective without requiring manufacturers to create a unique product line for California. At the same time, the adoption of this measure ensures that California does not become the dumping ground for toxic devices that can no longer be sold in Europe.

We strongly urge your support of this measure when it is heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

Sincerely,

Name
Organization

CC: Californians Against Waste
Assemblymember Lori Saldaña

(Please fax a COPY of your letter to Californians Against Waste (916) 443-3912 for our records)