APMADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Senate has approved a bill that would require electronics manufacturers to arrange for recycling of their products.
Disposal of electronic equipment is a problem because computers, TVs and other devices contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury and PCBs. Eighteen states have passed laws dealing with so-called e-waste, including Minnesota and Illinois.
Under Wisconsin's bill, dumping e-waste in landfills would be banned.
Manufacturers would have to arrange to recycle 80 percent of the total weight of products they sold in the state in a given year. They also would have to pay up to $5,000 annually to register with state environmental officials.
The Senate passed the measure 23-10. It now goes to the Assembly.