Minnesotans would be able to dispose of most electronic waste free of charge under a proposal carried by Senator Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead) that was heard in the Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee. If passed into law Sen. Kupec鈥檚 bill, SF 1690, would eliminate the disposal of these electronic products through curbside solid waste or recycling programs and help keep dangerous waste out of landfills and recycling centers.
鈥淒ecades ago, Minnesota passed a ban on e-waste in our landfills and created a program to collect electronics and batteries, but the world has changed. Modern society relies more and more on new types of batteries and electronics that we all depend on, but these devices are a challenge for our current system of disposal,鈥� said Sen. Kupec. 鈥淥ur current laws aren鈥檛 keeping up. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 time to create a system that works for consumers, producers, and all communities in Minnesota that will address the growing challenge of e-waste disposal in our state.鈥�
Currently, Minnesota generates 266 million pounds of e-waste each year, which largely ends up in landfills and incinerators. Only about 24% of Minnesota electronics waste currently gets captured for recycling, and up to $3.2 billion in critical materials and minerals is lost to current e-waste disposal. Batteries have also caused fires in landfills and recycling trucks and sorting facilities.
As discussed in the hearing, Sen. Kupec鈥檚 proposal would replace the existing Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act, and provide Minnesotans with a statewide system for disposing of most electronics, at no cost to the consumer or to units of government. Funding for the new program would be paid for by producers at rates determined by a newly created Covered Products Reimbursement Board composed of various solid waste interests.
At the conclusion of Thursday鈥檚 hearing, SF 1690 was passed and will next be heard in the State and Local Government Committee.