Just when we thought New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s green leanings had become predictable, he announced that he will veto the City Council’s bill requiring electronics manufacturers to be responsible for recycling their products.
Bloomberg also said he would not enforce the law if his veto is overriden, because the bill puts an unfair burden on the product manufacturers to control what happens toproducts at the end of their life cycles.
Speaking on his radio show, Bloomberg said electronics waste is an environmental concern, but he said the bill would be like requiring publishing companies to guarantee that their readers recycle newspapers.
As written, the bill requires manufacturers of televisions, computers, cameras, MP3s and other electronics to demonstrate that they are collecting and recycling an increasing portion of discarded electronics beginning in 2010.
The City Council said the bill was created to reduce the 25,000 tons of electronic waste the city produces each year, which contains mercury, lead, cadmium and other hazardous materials.
According to an AP report, if Bloomberg’s veto were overridden, his administration could decide not to enforce the law, if its law department does not believe the law to be legal.
The AP reported that spokesmen for the Bloomberg administration and the council said both sides are working to reach a compromise.
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