HARRISBURG, PA — In response to complaints about the increasing number of electronics being illegally dumped in woodlands, streams and environmentally sensitive areas, State Rep. Stephen Bloom on May 20 introduced legislation that would increase access to lawful electronics disposal options for consumers in rural communities.

In 2010, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Covered Device Recycling Act, which requires recycling of certain covered electronic devices, including computers, monitors, tablets and televisions.

“Though well intentioned by the legislators in office at that time, the rapidly changing electronics industry and market conditions have resulted in a variety of unintended consequences and few options for consumers, especially those in rural communities, to recycle their unwanted electronics,” Bloom said.

Bloom’s bill, House Bill 2089, would authorize the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to waive the provisions of the Covered Device Recycling Act for consumers in municipalities located more than five miles from the nearest DEP-approved electronic recycling facility. Residents located in qualifying municipalities would be permitted to dispose of electronics via conventional methods. “While a long-term fix to the law is necessary, this reprieve will help ease the glut of recyclables,” Bloom said.