FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Environmental protection officials say Kentucky should impose a ban on junk electronics - such as computer monitors or old cell phones - that eventually could lead to toxic hazards in landfills throughout the state.
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection officials suggested the idea to state lawmakers last week. Materials contained in certain electronics, such as mercury and lead, could pose environmental threats that need stricter regulation by the state, officials said.
"Right now if you're a homeowner, you can set any kind of a TV, computer monitor outside and theoretically the garbage pickup can take it to the landfill without any restrictions whatsoever," said Timothy Hubbard, assistant director for the state's environmental protection department. "This would put a ban on landfills from receiving that material directly."
Kentucky lawmakers may consider legislation to deal with scrap electronics when the General Assembly session starts in January. Similar legislation has stalled in previous sessions, including one measure earlier this year that never made it up for a vote by the full Senate.
Read more: The Lexington Herald-Leader
Senator Denise Harper Angel Sponsored Legislation
Editor's Note: State Senator Denise Harper Angel sponsored the legislation, SB 63, during the 2009 Regular Session of The Kentucky General Assembly. She plans to re-introduce the bill during the 2010 Regular Session.
“Under this bill, Kentucky consumers will have new options for proper disposal of old computers, TVs, wireless telephones, the small, popular handheld devices such as MP3 players and other e-scrap,” said Harper Angel. “Every Kentuckian should be able to either mail back their old devices for proper recycling or to take the devices to a nearby recycling center. This bill will provide those options and conveniences to all Kentuckians."
Read The Bill: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission