I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5158
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
JULY 18, 2002
Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr.
BLUMENAUER, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. FILNER, Mrs.
THURMAN, Ms. MCKINNEY, and Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce
A BILL
To establish a grant and fee program through the Environ-
mental Protection Agency to encourage and promote the
recycling of used computers and to promote the develop-
ment of a national infrastructure for the recycling of
used computers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Computer Hazardous
Waste Infrastructure Program Act’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(2) the term ‘‘cathode ray tube’’ means a vacu-
um tube or picture tube used to convert an elec-
tronic 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 mean-
ing given that term in section 1004(5) of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903); and
(6) the term ‘‘monitor’’ means a separate visual
display component of a computer, whether sold sepa-
rately 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.
SEC. 3. FEE.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Effective 180 days after the
transmittal to the Congress of the results of the study con-
ducted under section 6(a), the Administrator shall require
that a fee be assessed on the sale (including a sale through
the Internet) 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.
(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);
(2) be uniform—
(A) for each computer with a central proc-
essing 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 des-
ignated 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) 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 de-
scribed in paragraph (1).
(b) GRANT PURPOSES.—The Administrator shall
make grants with funds collected under section 3 to indi-
viduals or organizations for—
(1) collecting or processing used computers,
monitors, or other designated devices for recycling
purposes;
(2) reusing or reselling such computers, mon-
itors, or devices, or components thereof; and
(3) extracting and using, or selling for reuse,
raw materials from such computers, monitors, or de-
vices.
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual or organization shall
be eligible for a grant under subsection (b) only if the indi-
vidual or organization provides assurances to the satisfac-
tion 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, mar-
kets for recycled materials;
(4) the degree to which the proposal mitigates
or avoids harmful environmental or health effects;
and
(5) the degree to which the proposal employs
innovative recycling technologies.
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 con-
sult with representatives of the computer manufacturing,
retail, and recycling industries, waste management profes-
sionals, environmental and consumer groups, and other
appropriate individuals and organizations.
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 envi-
ronment;
(2) estimates the quantities of such materials
that exist or will exist in the future, including a sep-
arate estimate of the quantities of such materials
that are exported from the United States;
(3) estimates the costs of transporting, col-
lecting, and processing computers, monitors, and
other designated devices;
(4) describes current management of such
waste materials;
(5) makes recommendations for the manage-
ment of electronic products containing such waste
materials at the end of their useful lives; and
(6) estimates the demand for materials from re-
cycled 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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