A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF ENVIRONMENT TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM OF ELECTRONIC WASTE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL.

     WHEREAS, the technology explosion has created an exponential increase in electronic waste that contains dangerous substances such as lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls that can pollute air and water; and

     WHEREAS, used and nonfunctioning electronic products draw down landfill space, and recycling those products prevents the release of heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls that could pose environmental and health risks; and

     WHEREAS, the city of Albuquerque has established a program to support computer recycling; and

     WHEREAS, the national recycling coalition provides technical advice to recycle and reduce electronic waste; and

     WHEREAS, the private sector conducts events to collect and recycle electronic waste; and

     WHEREAS, there are companies in Arizona, Colorado and Texas that specialize in electronic waste recycling; and

     WHEREAS, there is a market for recycling electronic waste that can provide jobs and computer resources for education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of environment be requested to appoint a task force composed of the department of environment, local governments, recycling coalitions, local solid waste authorities, the private computer industry, the city of Albuquerque and the national laboratories to assess the problem of electronic waste; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and make recommendations to the appropriate committee of the legislature by December 1, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of environment.