WHY IS LEXMARK STALLING SENATE BILL SB-63 ?

[Anonymous]

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090310/OPINION01/903100353
The Lexmark line
It’s
all that electronic stuff that breaks down, goes obsolete and
eventually finds itself in the e-junk bin. Old cell phones. Old TVs.
Old VCRs. Old DVD players, video cameras, stereo systems and
telephones. Old computer equipment too, including monitors, processors,
notebooks, keyboards, mice, printers, copiers and multis.Some 3 million
tons of e-stuff accumulated for disposal in 2006, but only 11.4 percent
was recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Which is too bad. Recycling actually creates jobs.

Sen. Denise
Harper-Angel, D-Louisville, has introduced Senate Bill 63, which would
promote a flexible Kentucky system in which manufacturers take back old
products and recycle them. Government’s role would be minimized.Ms.
Harper-Angel took all the right steps, basing her bill on the findings
of an interim study, then adjusting some provisions to meet industry
concerns, including those of General Electric regarding old TVs.

But
Lexmark, the Lexington computer printer maker, went directly to Senate
leadership with its opposition and has stalled SB 63. The remaining
hope is that Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, who has a real interest in
this issue, will find a way to attach a version of Ms. Harper-Angel’s
bill in the House.On its Web site, Lexmark claims to be a good
environmental steward, practicing “energy conservation, pollution
prevention and waste minimization.” The company boasts, “We provide
recycling programs at our sites, product recycling and cartridge
remanufacturing and recycling. … As a good corporate citizen, we employ
environmental and health and safety mangement systems, consitently
adhere to regulatory compliance and participate in community
partnerships.”But its more important partnership seems to be with those
in the General Assembly who are content to see e-junk pile up in
landfills

[Author]

March 13, 2009 at 12:31 PM