[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 233 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 233
To establish a grant and fee program through the Environmental
Protection Agency to encourage and promote the recycling of used
computers and to promote the development of a national infrastructure
for the recycling of used computers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2007
Mr. Thompson of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant and fee program through the Environmental
Protection Agency to encourage and promote the recycling of used
computers and to promote the development of a national infrastructure
for the recycling of used computers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Computer Recycling Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) The term ``cathode ray tube'' means a vacuum tube or
picture tube used to convert an electronic signal into a visual
image.
(3) The term ``central processing unit'' includes a case
and all of its contents, such as the primary printed circuit
board and its components, additional printed circuit boards,
one or more disc drives, a transformer, interior wire, and a
power cord.
(4) The term ``computer'' means an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electrochemical, or other high speed data processing
device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions,
and may include both a central processing unit and a monitor,
but such term does not include an automated typewriter or
typesetter, a portable hand held calculator, or other similar
device.
(5) The term ``hazardous waste'' has the meaning given that
term in section 1004(5) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42
U.S.C. 6903).
(6) The term ``monitor'' means a separate visual display
component of a computer, whether sold separately or together
with a central processing unit, and includes a cathode ray tube
or liquid crystal display, its case, interior wires and
circuitry, cable to the central processing unit, and power
cord.
(7) The term ``nonprofit organization'' means an
organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a)
of such Code.
SEC. 3. FEE.
(a) Requirement.--Effective 180 days after the transmittal to the
Congress of the results of the study conducted under section 6(a), the
Administrator shall require that a fee be assessed on the sale
(including a sale through the Internet or a catalogue) to an end-user
of any computer, monitor, or other electronic device designated by the
Administrator under subsection (c). The Administrator shall establish
procedures for the collection of such fee. The requirement under this
subsection shall not apply to a sale by an end-user to a subsequent
end-user.
(b) Fee Amount.--The amount of the fee required under subsection
(a) shall--
(1) be an amount sufficient to cover the costs of carrying
out section 4(a) and subsection (c) of this section;
(2) be uniform--
(A) for each computer with a central processing
unit and monitor integrated in a single device;
(B) for each central processing unit;
(C) for each monitor; and
(D) for each class of other devices designated by
the Administrator under subsection (c);
(3) not exceed $10 per computer, monitor, or other
designated device; and
(4) be clearly indicated on the label, external packing
materials, or sales receipt of the computer, monitor, or
device.
(c) Administrative Costs.--Persons required by the Administrator to
collect a fee under this section may retain 3 percent of amounts so
collected to pay the costs of administering the fee collection program.
(d) Exempted Sales.--The requirement of a fee under this section
shall not apply to a sale of a used computer, monitor, or device by a
nonprofit organization.
(e) Additional Exemption.--The Administrator may exempt from the
requirement of a fee under this section any sale made under a contract
or an arrangement that the Administrator determines is likely to result
in the maximum reuse of significant components of the computer,
monitor, or device, and the disposal of the remaining components--
(1) in an environmentally sound and responsible manner;
(2) without violation of any Federal or State law; and
(3) without reliance on funding from State or local
governments,
when the computer, monitor, or device is no longer of use to the end-
user.
(f) Designation of Electronic Devices.--The Administrator may
designate additional electronic devices to which the fee under
subsection (a) shall apply if those electronic devices--
(1) contain a significant amount of material that, when
disposed of, would be hazardous waste; and
(2) include one or more liquid crystal displays, cathode
ray tubes, or circuit boards.
SEC. 4. GRANTS.
(a) Uses of Fee Amounts.--Amounts collected under section 3 shall
be used, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, by
the Administrator for--
(1) covering the costs of administration of this Act; and
(2) making grants under subsection (b).
Not more than 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this Act
for any fiscal year may be used for costs described in paragraph (1).
(b) Grant Purposes.--The Administrator shall make grants with funds
collected under section 3 to individuals or organizations (including
units of local government) for--
(1) collecting or processing used computers, monitors, or
other designated devices for recycling purposes;
(2) reusing or reselling such computers, monitors, or
devices, or components thereof; and
(3) extracting and using, or selling for reuse, raw
materials from such computers, monitors, or devices.
(c) Eligibility.--An individual or organization shall be eligible
for a grant under subsection (b) only if the individual or organization
provides assurances to the satisfaction of the Administrator that it
will carry out the grant purposes in a manner that complies with all
applicable Federal and State environmental and health laws.
(d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting proposals for grants under
subsection (b), the Administrator shall consider--
(1) the quantity of used computers, monitors, or other
designated devices that will be diverted from landfills;
(2) the estimated cost per unit of the collection,
processing, reuse, or sale proposed;
(3) the availability of, and potential for, markets for
recycled materials;
(4) the degree to which the proposal mitigates or avoids
harmful environmental or health effects;
(5) the degree to which the proposal employs innovative
recycling technologies; and
(6) the demonstrated history of the grant applicant in
disposing of or providing for the reuse of computers, monitors,
or devices in an environmentally sound and responsible manner
without violation of any Federal or State law.
The Administrator shall ensure that grants are provided to a
geographically diverse group of recipients.
SEC. 5. CONSULTATION.
In carrying out this Act, the Administrator shall consult with
representatives of the computer manufacturing, retail, and recycling
industries, waste management professionals, environmental and consumer
groups, and other appropriate individuals and organizations (including
units of local government).
SEC. 6. STUDY AND REPORTS.
(a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Congress the
results of a study that--
(1) identifies waste materials in used computers that may
be hazardous to human health or the environment;
(2) estimates the quantities of such materials that exist
or will exist in the future, including a separate estimate of
the quantities of such materials that are exported from the
United States;
(3) estimates the costs of transporting, collecting, and
processing computers, monitors, and other designated devices;
(4) describes current management of such waste materials;
(5) makes recommendations for the management of electronic
products containing such waste materials at the end of their
useful lives; and
(6) estimates the demand for materials from recycled
computers, and make recommendations for increasing the markets
for such materials.
(b) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter for 4 additional years, the
Administrator shall transmit to the Congress a report on the status of
computer recycling. Such report shall include a description of the
amount of fees collected under section 3, and a description of the
amount of administrative costs paid for and grants made under section 4
with funds collected through such fees.
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