Texas governor to decide on Television Takeback Bill

May 28 -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry will have on his desk a bill requiring television manufacturers to provide Texas residents with free and convenient recycling for their old units.

The state Senate unanimously passed the Television TakeBack Bill, which calls on TV makers to fund the collection and recycling of old televisions. Earlier this month, the Texas House of Representatives passed the measure.

State Rep. David Leibowitz, a Democrat from San Antonio, Texas, authored the bill. Sen. Kirk Watson, a Democrat from Austin, Texas, sponsored it in the Senate.

Proponents of the bill say it will help keep the 4 to 8 pounds of lead in cathode-ray tube televisions and the mercury in flat-screen TVs out of the environment. Televisions also contain brominated fire retardants and other hazardous chemicals.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Joe Truini at 330-865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com