“We can’t throw jobs into the landfill”

DENVER – Today, the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee approved the Electronic Recycling Jobs Act, sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) to create new jobs in the recycling industry. According to the Colorado Association for Recycling, this bill will create as many as 2,500 recycling jobs in Colorado. In addition, the Electronic Recycling Jobs Act will keep used electronic products out of the landfills, and send them to recycling facilities so that the valuable materials contained in them can be preserved for future use.

The Electronic Recycling Jobs Act will help strengthen local economies by helping waste and recycling businesses to expand or create new facilities throughout Colorado.  This legislation does not create any additional fees, will not require any state dollars, and creates a waiver process for communities that do not have access to electronic recycling. In addition, state agencies will be able to take advantage of existing private national certifications for handling electronic waste.   

Senator Schwartz offered the following comment on the committee passage of The Electronic Recycling Jobs Act, today:

“Senate Bill 133 creates new opportunities for the recycling and responsible disposal of the electronics we all enjoy, while reducing waste, protecting our groundwater and recovering resources.  The more material we are recycling the more jobs we are creating. We can’t throw jobs into the landfill.”

Currently, Colorado throws away between 40,000 and 160,000 tons of electronic waste a year that could be reused for manufacturing. By keeping these products from landfills the free market will be responsible for determining a solution for how best to recycle the excess electronic products.

Cosponsor Senator Steve King (R-Grand Junction) offered the following comment on The Electronic Jobs Act today:

 “Our bill puts into place a market driven framework that would create and expand the entrepreneurial opportunities to extract valuable raw materials from electronic waste.  This approach will both create jobs and keep harmful materials out of our landfills.  It’s good for business and its good for Colorado families.”

The Electronic Recycling Jobs Act is a key component in the Senate Majority’s “Colorado Works Jobs package,” a series of bills focused on continued job creation and economic growth.

This bill now goes for consideration by the full Senate.