4:30pm Thursday, April 4, 2024
State lawmakers this week were pushing a bill that could significantly reduce e-waste at Plymouth businesses.
If approved, the bill would make electronics manufacturers and retailers pay up front for the collection and recycling of electronics. That means they're likely to raise prices to force consumers to pay recycling fees in-store.
However, those same consumers do not have to pay to take their e-waste to a collection site.
Recycling fees are 3.2% statewide. Supporters of the group Recycle Electronics for Climate Change argue that the new fees will be lower than the current cost of dumping e-waste at recycling sites.
“We know that at the moment we only collect about 20% of e-waste, so we need to really push the electronics industry forward and make sure that people like the people here have something they can recycle. , we need to get to 100%,” said Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL St. Louis. Paul on tour with his Global Ewaste Solutions in Plymouth. “Currently, our electronic devices are either thrown away in landfills, contaminating groundwater, or incinerated, causing air pollution. Therefore, removing them from traditional waste streams is our priority.” It’s important for your health and well-being.”
State lawmakers this week were pushing a bill that could significantly reduce e-waste at Plymouth businesses.
business expansion?
Global Ewaste Solutions is a business-to-business company that recycles and resells electronic equipment.
They took public officials on a tour of their facilities and said the bill, if passed, could expand the model to include recycling for the public.
“You know, I think this is really swaying us to embrace public material,” said Dave Potter, managing partner at Global Ewaste Solutions. “We have the certification, we have the space, we have the throughput, and we understand the needs better than ever before. And I think that will create additional jobs.”
Potter said the bill could help reduce wasteful dumping.
“We really want to try to recycle these materials properly and sustainably,” Potter said. “The other thing is, [could] Really eliminate illegal dumping. There are some rural areas and some places where people appear to be dumping these materials. And you will be given the means to dispose of those materials in a way that protects your data. Permanently deleting data essentially makes it easier for users to let go of their device. ”
Minnesota Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) signed the bill in late March.
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