{nl} SALEM - Some day soon, Oregonians will be able to haul those broken TV sets and obsolete computers out of closets, garages and basements and have them recycled - for free - thanks to a bill sent Tuesday to the governor's desk for his signature.
House Bill 2626 directs the State Department of Environmental Quality to charge fees to manufacturers and establish free, "e-waste" recycling throughout the state.
Once the law goes into effect at the start of 2009, recycling TVs,{nl}computers, monitors and peripherals such as keyboards and hard drives{nl}will be made easier and without a cost to consumers, small businesses{nl}and nonprofit organizations with up to seven such items to get rid of.{nl}The e-waste program established by HB 2626 would shift the costs to{nl}manufacturers - an arrangement agreed to by the lobbyists representing{nl}the computer and electronics sectors.
Lorraine Kerwood, who{nl}founded the reuse and recycle program, Next Step, in Eugene, said she{nl}was optimistic that those who come in and pay to have their unwanted{nl}electronic items recycled will have a lot of company once the new bill{nl}is in effect.
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