DENVER Techies might be camped out in line for new iPads this week, but one day the popular tablet computers will be obsolete, and people will be tempted to throw them in the trash.
Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, wants to make sure that doesnt happen.
His Senate Bill 133 would ban disposal of electronic devices in landfills, with exceptions for small counties that dont have access to electronics recyclers.
Many devices have precious metals in them, Coram said.
When we can recycle our resources, I think thats a very good thing, Coram said.
The bill passed the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday on a 9-0 vote.
It would ban landfill disposal of computers, fax machines, printers, DVD players, book readers and other gadgets.
They dont really belong there. Theyre either toxic or they have value, said Marjorie Griek, executive director of the Colorado Association for Recycling.
County commissioners in remote areas could exempt their counties from the bill if they dont have at least two electronic recycling events per year.
Even with the county exemption, one local government group opposed the bill because of the cost it might impose.
The cost of transporting the electronic materials is quite expensive in some cases, said Diana Orf, a lobbyist for the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado.
Consumers usually have to pay to recycle their devices, and some of them might just ditch them on the side of the road instead, Orf said.
It would probably cost me 50 bucks to get rid of my TV. I think people, when they start looking at that, might have some questions, she said.
SB 133 has already passed the Senate 28-6. It now goes to the full House.