State Senate approves e-waste recycle program

A bill that requires manufacturers to take back old electronic equipment from consumers passed the State Senate Friday, paving the way for a statewide e-waste program to recycle or reuse discarded electronics. The approval was part of a larger deal struck between Gov. David A. Paterson and lawmakers over state parks funding. Environmental advocates took issue with the deal's significant cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund. But they liked the e-waste measure, aimed at keeping toxins such as lead out of landfills and incinerators. "It's a landmark bill and will be a national leader," saidRichard Schrader, New York legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "I think we're going to see a substantial decline in the amount of materials that winds up in landfills."

- Jennifer Smith