Consumer Electronics Makers Continue Fight against NYC E-Waste Program

Date: December 8, 2009

Source: News Room

Consumer Electronics companies argue that New York City's e-waste program will cause them "irreparable harm" and cost them more than $200 million a year in compliance costs, according to their latest filing in their lawsuit that asks the U.S. District Court, Manhattan, for a preliminary injunction to prevent the program from taking effect. Furthermore, the program "places the electronics industry on the precipice of an unprecedented collection and recycling mandate that threatens the viability of many of the plaintiffs during a severe recession." Industry groups filed the lawsuit in July challenging the constitutionality of many core aspects of the New York City product stewardship law arguing that the law improperly controls commerce in other states, burdens interstate commerce and violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the Constitution, among other things.

Other governments and environmentalists are following the case closely, fearing that a successful legal challenge could jeopardize similar efforts, often referred to as "extended producer responsibility" (EPR), in other states.

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