U.S. RoHS may be on the way

The electronics industry has been clamoring for a federal RoHS law for more than a year. With the proliferation of individual state laws that conflict on requirements, the industry wants one law that supercedes state law and makes compliance infinitely easier. More than 50 percent of electronics industry leaders recently polled are in favor of federal legislation.

The relief may come from a bill soon to be introduced by Representative Hilda Solis from California who is slated to take over the top spot in the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. According to the association, AeA (Advancing the Business of Technology), she is already promoting federal legislation that mirrors parts of California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act (California’s RoHS). Currently Minnesota, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin have similar RoHS laws.

Given the widespread industry support for the concept of a U.S. RoHS, it’s likely the Democratic Congress will support federal legislation to consolidate state laws into one comprehensive federal law.