WASHINGTON -- The Congressional E-Waste Working Group today brought together the nation's largest e-waste stakeholders in hopes of developing a solution to disposing of the 100 million electronics devices that are rendered obsolete each year.

The participants -- electronics manufacturers and retailers, recyclers, environmental groups and state officials -- discussed what role the federal government can play to mitigate e-waste's effects and how to distribute responsibility for disposal.

The Working Group, a bipartisan effort, was formed in 2005 to explore options to the problem of e-waste.

In a statement, member Rep. Mike Thompson said, "Rather than having a patchwork of state regulations and individual company policies, a federal solution may be a more effective approach."

Added Rep. Louise Slaughter, "We're coming together to produce clear and consistent e-waste guidelines. Developing a national plan is critical if we want to protect our environment and the vitality of electronics manufacturers. If we don't respond to e-waste now, U.S. businesses will be put at a competitive disadvantage, while the consequences to the environment will grow more severe."

The Government Accountability Office estimates that 100 million electronic devices become obsolete each year. E-waste now accounts for more than 40% of the lead and 70% of the metals in U.S. landfills, the Working Group said.

Represented at today's meeting was Best Buy, Consumer Electronic Association, Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition, Dell, Electronic Industries Alliance, Electronic Waste Recycling Program - California, Goodwill Industries, H-P, IBM, International Scrap Recycling, Kodak, National Recycling Coalition, Panasonic, Product Stewardship Institute, Washington State Department of Ecology, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Sony Electronics and CTIA, The Wireless Association.

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