Lawmakers Set To Tackle E-Waste Problem

HONOLULU -- Electronic waste has become a big problem in Hawaii.

Old computers and TVs tossed away in favor of newer versions are filling landfills.

KITV's Denby Fawcett reported that state legislators agreed on a way to reduce electronic waste at no cost to consumers.

Improper disposal of electronic equipment is worrisome because they contain lead and other potentially poisonous metals, officials said.

Lawmakers said they will ask manufacturers to set up their own plans to recycle unwanted products.

"This will create a program where it will be easier to recycle these products (and) hopefully turn them into new computers, new TVs and keep them out of the landfill," Hawaii's Sierra Club chapter spokesman Jeff Mikulina said.

Computer retailer MacMouse Club owner Rolf Nordahl said he likes the idea.

"Certainly it is a good idea to get these things back, and the manufacturer would probably be in the best position to deal with these products," Nordahl said.

But others said they think consumers should bear more responsibility.

"I personally prefer market solutions, or if they can provide incentives for people like you and me -- maybe to get $5 off your own phone if you give them your old phone versus legislated like that -- it tends to be more efficient in the long term," Web entrepreneur Matt Mullenweg said.

Hawaii Mac users created their own small recycling solution by hosting electronic swap meets.

Some companies in Hawaii said they are already offering their customers ways to recycle their electronics, but there are still too many cast-off electronics going into the landfill.

Rep. Della Au Belatti said manufacturers can benefit by doing the recycling.

"What you see are people like Apple and Hewlett Packard, who design computers, that when they take it back, they can reuse those parts, so we are not just taking them back, but they are actually putting them into new computers," Au Belatti said.

The E-waste bill is expected to be approved Tuesday, Fawcett reported.