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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,

I am writing to urge your support of Assembly Bill 218 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, which would phase out the use of hazardous materials in most consumer electronics.

California disposes over 515,000 tons of electronic waste every year into municipal landfills. Moreover, the Department of Toxic Substances Control has determined that most electronic devices are toxic, and as of February 2006 were banned from landfills under the state's Universal Waste Regulation. Unfortunately, since the ban became effective, California is no where close to 100 percent compliance of that law, and consumers are still disposing toxic e-waste into landfills.

Compounding the problem of the growing e-waste volume is the presence of toxic levels of hazardous materials in many of these devices. According to the US EPA, approximately 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic wastes. Most electronic devices include mercury, lead, cadmium and other carcinogenic substances, which can damage nervous, kidney, neurological and reproductive systems.

In 2003, the legislature adopted SB 20 (Sher), the E-waste Recycling Act, which included a provision establishing a phase out of the use of specified toxic materials in 'covered electronic devices' (CED's), effective January of this year. CED's are currently limited to electronic devices containing a screen larger than 4 inches. This measure would amend the definition of CED's to include virtually all consumer electronics consistent with the European Union’s Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.

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

Sincerely,

<YOUR NAME> 

CC: Californians Against Waste
Assemblymember Lori Saldaña

(Please FAX a copy of your signed letter to Californians Against Waste (916) 443-3912 for our records.)