Cell Phone Recycling bill signed into law

Recycling Today, Nov, 2004

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed AB-2901, which requires retailers to take back obsolete cell phones at no cost to consumers, into law in California. California is the first state in the country to pass such legislation.

The Cell Phone Recycling Act makes it unlawful to sell a cellular phone in California after July 1, 2006, unless the retailer has a system in place for the collection of used phones for reuse, recycling or proper disposal.

The measure requires producers and consumers to absorb all the costs associated with the proper management of obsolete cell phones by, at or before purchase, rather than upon disposal. The legislation also calls for cell phone manufacturers to reduce and, to the extent possible, phase out the use of hazardous materials in cell phones.