Archives: Rules

Initially outdoor light ordinances were adopted by communities with research observatories at the urging of astronomers. But star-gazing is not the only reason for regulating night lighting. Many of Florida’s oceanfront communities have adopted lighting codes to protect the nesting sea turtles along beaches. Sea turtle hatchlings instinctively head toward light. Before electric lighting, bioluminescence and the reflection of the moon on the water made the ocean brighter than the land. But due to light pollution, hatchlings often head inland. The strict limits on street lighting on Sanibel Island aim to remedy the imbalance between the unnatural brightness of the shoreline and the natural bioluminescence of the sea.… Read More

Oakland, California (pop. 400,000) passed a zero waste resolution on March 7, 2006. The city directed its public works department to come up with a strategic plan to meet the zero waste goal by 2020.… Read More

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a growing approach to recycling and waste reduction.  In May 1997, the state of Maine started considering actions to control mercury emissions and discharges in response to increasing evidence of unhealthy levels of mercury in the Maine environment. After a series of detailed reports which identified sources and recommended specific actions, the state enacted a law in April 2002 titled "An Act to Prevent Mercury Emissions when Recycling and Disposing of Motor Vehicles." [click for full text].… Read More

In February 2006 the City of Oakland, California passed ordinance 12727, which enacts a fee on fast-food restaurants, gas stations, and convenience markets to cover litter and trash clean up.  The fee is expected to raise $237,000 a year, which will be used solely to fund the clean up program.  The ordinance is intended to discourage the use of disposable products such as candy wrappers, food containers, and paper napkins. "A city is judged by how clean it is, and Oakland definitely has a major litter problem. It’s time to clean up", said Councilwoman Brunner, who proposed the ordinance.… Read More

This is a five year pilot program (expires 2010). Producers pay a $5000 registration fee per year to the state’s recycling fund (or $500 in yrs 2-5 if they have instituted a takeback program. If counties set up computer collection/recycling programs, they can apply to the state recycling fund for grants to offset some costs.… Read More

Maine’s e-Waste law passed in 2003 represents a partnership between the private sector, the public sector and consumers. The legislature wrote in the law that "the purpose of this section is to establish a comprehensive electronics recycling system that ensures the safe and environmentally sound handling, recycling and disposal of electronic products and components and encourages the design of electronic products and components that are less toxic and more recyclable."… Read More

The California Electronic Waste and Recycling Act of 2003 places an advanced recycling fee on the sale of new computer monitors, TVs, and laptop computers to fund a statewide recovery and end-of-life processing system for obsolete electronics. These products contain hazardous substances that can be dangerous if not disposed of properly. For example, computer monitors contain lead that can leach into groundwater if they are dumped in an ordinary landfill.… Read More

In March 2006, the state of Washington passed an electronics recycling bill that requires manufacturers to finance the collection, transportation and recycling of old computers, monitors and televisions. With the implementation of this new "producer takeback" rule, Washington will become the fourth state to enact electronics recycling legislation (see more states here).… Read More

On December 15th, 2004 the City of Chicago approved a new construction and demolition recycling requirement. The new rules will take effect in March 2006. The initial requirement for recycling will be 25 percent of all recyclable materials measured by weight for projects permitted after March 1, 2006. This will be increased to 50 percent after January 1, 2007.… Read More