WASHINGTON – A pair of US congressmen yesterday introduced legislation aimed at preventing US firms from shipping electronics waste to developing countries.

The bill addresses dumping operations that were the subject of a recent US Governmental Accountability Office report. It would add a new section to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act laws establishing a new category of “restricted electronic waste” that cannot be exported from the US to developing nations.

Among supporters of the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2010 are Apple, Dell and Samsung, according to reports.

Nonhazardous or tested and working electronic products or parts are not restricted. Other exemptions include products under warranty being returned to the manufacturing facility that made them; products or parts being recalled, and crushed CRT glass cullet that is cleaned and prepared as feedstock into CRT glass manufacturing facilities.

Currently, e-waste is exported to countries such as China, India, Nigeria and Ghana by many US companies that claim to be recyclers, with toxins in those electronics causing health concerns in the developing regions. Twenty-three US states have passed e-waste recycling legislation, but these laws do not ban e-waste exports.

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