June 24th, 2009
By Harriet Blake
Green Right Now
Texas Gov. Rick Perry surprised environmentalists, and others, when he recently vetoed the TV Take Back Bill (HB 821), which would have allowed Texans to recycle their outdated televisions for free as part of the necessary switch to digital TV.
It was a defeat for Texas environmentalists who not only had the support of local governments but TV manufacturers as well.
“We were in complete shock given the wide statewide support for the bill. We even had secured the endorsement of the industry lobbying group [the Technology Association of American, formerly the American Electronics Association],” said Jeff Jacoby of the Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE).
In his veto, Gov. Perry acknowledged that the bill would make it easier for consumers to recycle old televisions but said “it does so at the expense of manufacturers, retailers and recyclers by imposing onerous new mandates, fees and regulations” and would also “generate unfair results and stifle competition.”
In a statement released Monday, the TCE noted that it didn’t seem so onerous to Austin lawmakers: The bill had no opposition and passed overwhelmingly in the House and unanimously in the Senate.
“HB 821 would have provided Texans free, convenient recycling for obsolete televisions,” said TCE staffer Zac Trahan.
Jacoby agrees, adding, “The Legislative Budget Board analyzed the TV recycling bill and concluded that the program would have no fiscal impact on the State of Texas. In fact, this bill saves tax dollars and spares city budgets, spurs economic growth and creates green collar jobs in the electronics recycling industry.”
The TV Take Back bill would have operated much like an earlier measure, House Bill 2714, which passed in the last legislative session to regulate the recycling of computer equipment. That bill provided incentives to computer makers for taking back equipment from other companies, and did not allow for fees on the makers, sellers and recyclers of computers.
“Across the country, this (TV Take Back) is certainly not the most stringent mandate,” says Jacoby, who described the TV and computer programs as nearly identical. “It’s a market-based approach.”
In his veto, Gov. Perry expressed a concern that voluntary recycling programs like those being implemented by electronics retailers, be considered for TVs.
“We applaud the voluntary programs,” says Jacoby, “and due to the unwise and untimely veto, we will work even more closely with manufacturers and retailers to get affordable and convenient TV recycling to all Texans as we embark on the era of digital television.”
Jeff Clark, spokesman for the Technology Association of America (TechAmerica) that represents television manufacturers, said that TechAmerica was disappointed but will work harder to get to a place where everyone can agree. “We were pleased with the level of cooperation on all levels — that the industry was able to work with environmentalists to come with a bill. The Governor plays a role in creating the law. We are going to address the Governor’s concerns so we can work with him [on a new bill] next time.”
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