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COMPUTER WASTE LEGISLATION TO BE PROPOSED

Press Release

WASHINGTON D.C., 16 July 2002 --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Laura Dossa (202) 225-3311, Ed Matovcik (707) 226-9898

MEDIA ADVISORY

COMPUTER WASTE LEGISLATION TO BE PROPOSED - Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) will introduce legislation Thursday, July 18, 2002 to address the growing computer waste problem in the United States.

· Millions of pounds of electronic waste (e-waste) from used computers are being generated in the U.S. each year.

· E-waste contains hazardous materials including lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated-flame retardants and PVC plastics.

· Currently, 75% of obsolete computers are in storage awaiting disposal. The majority of domestic e-waste ends up in U.S. landfills or incinerators. Seventy percent of heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic products.

· Currently, there is a dearth of environmentally sound computer recycling operations. In the United States it is estimated that only a fraction of used computers are recycled, many of which are disposed of in developing countries.

· It is estimated that 80% of e-waste handled by the waste industry is exported to Asia where it often ends up in riverbeds or illegally disposed of in landfills.

The "Computer Hazardous-Waste Infrastructure Program (CHIP) Act" would give the Environmental Protection Agency authority to provide grants to organizations that collect computers for recycling or reuse and/or extracting and using raw materials from computers in a manner that minimizes harmful environmental impacts.

Laura Dossa, Deputy Press Secretary

Office of Congressman Mike Thompson

119 Cannon Building Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-3311 tel (202) 225-4335 fax

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