On April 16, 2002, the City Council approved staff recommendations related to the City’s position on end of useful life management of electronic waste (see RTC #02-097, shown as Attachment A). Hazardous electronic waste (e-waste) disposal has become an increasingly high profile and costly problem for consumers and local governments. The most problematic of these materials, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), are found in most computer monitors and televisions, and are the focus of this report.

In response to this issue the City Council adopted a resolution making the City a member of the Product Stewardship Institute, adopting the Institute’s Principles of Product Stewardship and supporting legislation requiring producer responsibility programs for CRTs. The resolution further specifies that if no effective legislation addressing this issue is passed at the State level, the City of Sunnyvale will join with other local jurisdictions to develop local programs for collecting point-of-sale advance disposal fees, or require manufacturers and/or sellers to either enact take-back programs or fund a convenient recovery system for CRTs.

Over 6,000 computers and electronic devices become obsolete in California each day, and management of this material is an increasingly costly and complicated problem for the City, its residents and its businesses. The most problematic types of e-waste are computer monitors and televisions, most of which contain Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) which are banned from landfills.

Two State Senate bills supported by the City that would have established a funding system and recycling incentives for CRTs, SB 1523 and SB 1619, were passed by the Senate in 2002 but were then vetoed by Governor Davis. However, in his veto message, the governor voiced support for this type of legislation in 2003 and asked the legislature to work with industry to find a solution to the problem. If adequate legislation is passed, a Santa Clara County ordinance would become inoperative.

Solid Waste Sub-Element – Policy 3.2E.3: Minimize illegal and inappropriate disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

In the absence of state legislation placing responsibility for end of useful life management of electronic wastes on manufacturers, the City of Sunnyvale has declared by resolution its commitment to join with other jurisdictions in passing local ordinances to help in addressing this problem.

A local ordinance should require retail sellers of CRTs to:

1. Take back, or arrange for the free return of hazardous CRT devices from any resident of the City
2. Create and maintain a public education program to promote the recovery, reuse, and recycling of hazardous electronic scrap
3. Properly collect and handle hazardous CRT devices as required by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)

In addition, the ordinance should require each prospective vendor for the jurisdiction to certify that it and its affiliates abide by this ordinance and take-back their products free of charge.

Forty-four jurisdictions and agencies have passed resolutions supporting similar state and/or local policies on CRT disposal. In addition, three cities (San Francisco, Berkeley, and Imperial Beach) and the County of Santa Cruz are planning to introduce e-waste ordinances, with Los Angeles having already introduced an ordinance in February.