Judge Sends Parties in New York City E-Waste Lawsuit to Negotiate

Date: February 8, 2010

Source: News Room

A federal judge in Manhattan has suspended oral arguments in a lawsuit aimed at New York City's sweeping electronics-recycling law until May, to allow the city and industry to settle their dispute in negotiations. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) filed the lawsuit last year, asking a judge in Manhattan federal district court to issue a preliminary injunction suspending the law, especially after City officials ignored requests for discussions. Industry argues that the City's law which would require electronics manufactures to arrange and pay for the collection and disposal of not only their own but also competitors' goods, estimated to cost $200 million a year, violates the US Constitution and common sense. "We are not waste collectors. We don't have expertise in that," said Rick Goss, vice president of environment and sustainability at ITIC in a conference call to reporters last month. New York City's sanitation workersunion filed an amicus brief in support of CEA and ITIC's lawsuit, saying that waste collection was the strict purview of its membership. For its part, the City received backing from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition which worry that a defeat of New York City's law might invalidate similar measures in 19 other states with similar "producer responsibility laws."

See also, "Showdown in Court over New York City's E-Waste Law," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20100105A.htm).

See also, "Union Argues E-Waste Collection is 'Exclusive Province' of NYC Sanitation Workers," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20091215G.htm).

See also, "Consumer Electronics Makers Continue Fight against NYC E-Waste Program," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20091208H.htm).

See also, "Cities Fear New York E-Waste Lawsuit Threatens California Effort," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20091117C.htm).

See also, "New York City Delays E-Waste Deadline after Federal Lawsuit," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20090805G.htm).

See also, "Electronics Industry Challenges New York City E-Waste Law," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20090728B.htm).

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