Senate Bill 2694

AN ACT TO CREATE THE CELL PHONE RECYCLING ACT OF 2005; TO REQUIRE CELL PHONE RETAILERS TO ACCEPT CELL PHONES FOR RECYCLING; TO REQUIRE STATE CONTRACTS TO COMPLY WITH RECYCLING PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited as, the Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2005.

SECTION 2. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The purpose of this act is to enact a comprehensive and innovative system for the reuse, recycling and proper and legal disposal of used cell phones.

(b) It is the further purpose of this act to enact a law that establishes a program that is convenient for consumers and the public to return, recycle and ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of used cell phones, and providing a system that does not charge when a cell phone is returned.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the cost associated with the handling, recycling and disposal of used cell phones be the responsibility of the producers and consumers of cell phones, and not local government or their service providers, state government or taxpayers.

(d) In order to reduce the likelihood of illegal disposal of hazardous materials, it is the intent of this act to ensure that all costs associated with the proper management of used cell phones is internalized by the producers and consumers of cell phones at or before the point of purchase, and not at the point of discard.

(e) Manufacturers and retailers of cell phones and cell phone service providers, in working to achieve the goals and objectives of this act, should have the flexibility to partner with each other and with those private and nonprofit business enterprises that currently provide collection and processing services to develop and promote a safe and effective used cell phone recycling system for Mississippi.

(f) The producers of cell phones should reduce and, to the extent feasible, ultimately phase out the use of hazardous materials in cell phones.

(g) Cell phones, to the greatest extent feasible, should be designed for extended life, repair and reuse.

(h) The purpose of this act is to provide for the safe, cost free and convenient collection, reuse and recycling of one hundred percent (100%) of the used cell phones discarded or offered for recycling in the state.

(i) In establishing a cost-effective system for the recovery, reuse, recycling and proper disposal of used cell phones, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage manufacturers, retailers and service providers to build on the retailer take-back systems initiated recently by some cell phone service providers.

(j) An estimated five percent (5%) of obsolete cell phones are currently being recycled through a mechanism, whereby private sector recyclers provide retailers with a postage paid box for mailing returned cell phones to the recycler at no cost to the retailers. In some instances, the scrap value of these used phones is sufficient for the recycler to either pay the retailer or make a financial contribution on behalf of the retailer to a nonprofit charity. It is the intent of the Legislature that this model system be substantially expanded as a result of the enactment of this act.

SECTION 3. The following terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Cell phone" means a wireless telephone device that is designed to send or receive transmissions through a cellular radiotelephone service, as defined in Section 22.99 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. A cell phone includes the rechargeable battery that may be connected to that cell phone. A cell phone does not include a wireless telephone device that is integrated into the electrical architecture of a motor vehicle.

(b) "Department" means the Department of Environmental Quality.

(c) "Retailer" means a person who sells a cell phone in the state to a consumer, including a manufacturer of a cell phone who sells that cell phone directly to a consumer. A sale, includes, but is not limited to, transactions conducted through sales outlets, catalogs or the Internet or any other similar electronic means, but does not include, a sale that is a wholesale transaction with a distributor or retailer.

(d) "Used cell phone" means a cell phone that has been previously used and is made available, by a consumer, for reuse, recycling or proper disposal.

SECTION 4. (1) On and after July 1, 2006, every retailer of cell phones sold in this state shall have in place a system for the acceptance and collection of used cell phones for reuse, recycling or proper disposal.

(2) A system for the acceptance and collection of used cell phones for reuse, recycling or proper disposal shall, at a minimum, include all of the following elements:

(a) The take-back from the consumer of a used cell phone that the retailer sold or previously sold to the consumer, at no cost to that consumer. The retailer may require proof of purchase;

(b) The take-back of a used cell phone from a consumer who is purchasing a new cell phone from that retailer, at no cost to that consumer;

(c) If the retailer delivers a cell phone directly to a consumer in this state, the system provides the consumer, at the time of delivery, with a mechanism for the return of used cell phones for reuse, recycling or proper disposal, at no cost to the consumer;

(d) Make information available to consumers about cell phone recycling opportunities provided by the retailer and encourage consumers to utilize those opportunities. This information may, include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:

(i) A sign that is prominently displayed and easily visible to the consumer;

(ii) Written materials provided to the consumer at the time of purchase or delivery, or both;

(iii) Reference to the cell phone recycling opportunity in retailer advertising or other promotional materials, or both; or

(iv) Direct communications with the consumer at the time of purchase;

(3) Paragraph (d) does not apply to a retailer that only sells prepaid cell phones and does not provide the ability for a consumer to sign a contract for cell phone service; and

(4) On and after July 1, 2006, it is unlawful to sell a cell phone to a consumer in this state unless the retailer of that cell phone complies with this act.

SECTION 5. On July 1, 2007, and each July 1, thereafter, the department shall post on its website an estimated Mississippi recycling rate for cell phones, the numerator of which shall be the estimated number of cell phones returned for recycling in Mississippi during the previous calendar year, and the denominator of which is the number of cell phones estimated to be sold in this state during the previous calendar year.

SECTION 6. (1) A state agency that purchases or leases cell phones shall require each prospective bidder, to certify that it, and its agents, subsidiaries, partners, joint venturers and subcontractors for the procurement, have complied with this act and any regulations adopted pursuant to this act, or to demonstrate that this act is inapplicable to all lines of business engaged in by the bidder, its agents, subsidiaries, partners, joint venturers or subcontractors.

(2) Failure to provide certification pursuant to this section shall render the prospective bidder and its agents, subsidiaries, partners, joint venturers and subcontractors ineligible to bid on the procurement of cell phones.

(3) The bid solicitation documents shall specify that the prospective bidder is required to cooperate fully in providing reasonable access to its records and documents that evidence compliance with this act.

(4) Any person awarded a contract by a state agency that is found to be in violation of this section is subject to the following sanctions:

(a) The contract shall be voided by the state agency to which the equipment, materials or supplies were provided; and

(b) The contractor is ineligible to bid on any state contract for a period of three (3) years.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.