New Law To Step Up Electronics Recycling In Illinois
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation that he hopes will increase the volume of electronics that are recycled rather than thrown away.
Senate Bill 2106, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood) and Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Skokie), expands the types of electronic products subject to the state's landfill ban, a release from Quinn's office said.
Current law requires computer monitors, televisions and printers to be diverted, but under the new law, that list is expanded to include keyboards, portable music devices, scanners, VCRs, video game consoles and other items.
"This bill not only prevents toxic substances from entering into the ground," Biss said in the release. "But it also encourages the continued rapid growth of the e-recycling industry, supporting small businesses around the state that have created thousands of new jobs in recent years."
The law also increases recycling goals for electronics manufacturers. Next year, manufacturers will be required to recycle 40 percent of the products they sold in 2010, the release said.
This will amount to an increase from 28 million pounds of electronics recycled in 2011 to more than 50 million in 2012, and jobs should be created as a result, the release said.
Those who violate the rules on electronics recycling could be hit with fines of $1,000 to $7,000.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
