FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2009
 

TechAmerica Opposes Proposed Wisconsin Electronic Recycling Legislation
Industry Concerned Over Costly and Unsustainable Recycling Model

Oakbrook Terrace, IL – TechAmerica, formed by the merger of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and AeA, opposes Wisconsin's proposed electronic recycling legislation as it puts forth unrealistic, unnecessary, and unsustainable requirements on electronics manufacturers. Currently, the proposed bill would require that manufacturers recycle 80% of the products that were sold in the previous calendar year or pay a fine.

"The high-tech industry is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our products throughout their lifecycle, and our members are willing and able to establish a producer responsibility system for obsolete electronics in Wisconsin," said Ed Longanecker, Executive Director, TechAmerica Midwest. "Unfortunately, the proposed model is based on legislation that has only been adopted in two of the eighteen states that have passed electronic recycling legislation to date.”

“Legislators must realize that these devices are private property, and we can in no way compel citizens to return obsolete products, let alone according to some statutory schedule. Penalizing manufacturers for the actions or inactions of others raises many legal and constitutional concerns. This model is not supported by any technology manufacturer that falls within scope of this legislation, nor was it when this legislation was introduced last year,” continued Longanecker.

Many major manufacturers already operate successful voluntary programs that meet or exceed environmental requirements. Wisconsin's proposed legislation, which includes mandatory requirements, combined with punitive penalties for "under-performance," is an unsustainable model that will require manufacturers to pass on inflated costs through the entire distribution chain, where they are marked up at every stage and then passed along to consumers. This approach reduces sales and costs jobs in normal economic times, and will have an even more severe impact in the current economic climate.

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About TechAmerica
TechAmerica is the leading voice for the U.S. technology industry, the driving force behind productivity growth and jobs creation in the United States and the foundation of the global innovation economy. Representing approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy, it is the industry’s largest advocacy organization and is dedicated to helping members’ top and bottom lines. It is also the technology industry's only grassroots-to-global advocacy network, with offices in state capitals around the United States, Washington, D.C., Europe (Brussels) and Asia (Beijing). TechAmerica was formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA). Learn more at www.aeanet.org or www.itaa.org.

This page was last updated on 03/10/09.