In This Section:
Busting Bulbs Will Get You Busted In California
EU Rolls Out Disposal Ban On Products Containing Hazardous Waste
Pennsylvania Pushes Energy Efficient Equipment
Washington, D.C., Considers Smoking Ban
Federal Obesity-Lawsuit Bill Moves Forward
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Hatco Corp. | Industry ReportSponsor: Kolpak/Manitowoc Foodservice Group
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Busting Bulbs Will Get You Busted In California
Better start lining up a hazardous waste handler now if you don't have one in California. As of Feb. 8, 2006, it will be illegal to throw away anything in the state that contains mercury. Chief among the items in your operations that may fit the bill include fluorescent and high intensity discharge light bulbs, batteries and mercury switches.
After that date, such items must be treated as hazardous waste. You'll be able to consolidate them in one of your locations until they're ready for disposal. To get rid of them, you'll have to take them to a hazardous waste recycling center, a hazardous waste land disposal facility (if the items don't have to be recycled), or give them to a hazardous waste handler.
Until then, you can only throw away up to 30 fluorescent bulbs a month. For more info visit www.dtsc.ca.gov.
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EU Rolls Out Disposal Ban On Products Containing Hazardous Waste
Look for big changes coming in the materials used in your electrical equipment, whether you're in Europe or anywhere else around the global market.
European Union rules aimed at minimizing the impact of disposing of electric and electronic equipment containing hazardous materials are going into effect in more EU countries this summer.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which became EU law in February of 2003 and takes effect in many EU member countries this summer, sets criteria for collection, recycling and recovery of equipment containing hazardous waste. Categories include large and small appliances, lighting, computers and monitoring and control instruments.
Such products sold in Europe should already be registered by producers and should include a special mark on them that indicates they shouldn't be tossed out with other solid wastes. Similar rules are expected to be finalized in England, Ireland and France in July, with effective dates most likely to be January '06. In most cases, manufacturers will have to pay for you to recycle these products in EU countries that have published final regs beginning next January.
In a related law, by July '06, EU countries will ban the sale of new equipment that contains higher than authorized levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs and PBDE flame retardants. Equipment that doesn't meet Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards will have to be redesigned before it's allowed on the EU market.
Because it's more cost-effective to design a product once and then sell the same version everywhere, look for all your global-market electrical equipment to soon reflect the new European standards.
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Pennsylvania Pushes Energy Efficient Equipment
Following the lead of neighboring Mid-Atlantic States, Pennsylvania is again pushing for higher energy efficiency standards in the state. Bills have been reintroduced in both the House and Senate (SB290 and HB1461), that would require electric equipment from lighting to HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration to meet minimum efficiency standards by 2010. If passed, you may end up investing in more efficient equipment, but will save on energy in the long run.
The standards are the same as those agreed to in April by industry groups, commercial refrigeration manufacturers and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. That agreement was reached to establish federal standards, but several states are moving ahead without waiting for federal regulations. New Jersey's standards are in place and Maryland's take effect next year. Connecticut and Arizona also passed legislation last year, but Connecticut's doesn't take effect until 2008.
A report out recently from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project estimates that minimum standards will save consumers and business in Pennsylvania $2.5 billion in electricity in the next 15 years.
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Washington, D.C., Considers Smoking Ban
While Wheeling, W.Va., Still Smolders
The tide is turning in Washington, D.C., over a ban on indoor smoking. Once adamantly against it, the city's mayor is now backing the idea. Three bills are now being reviewed by the city council, with one likely to pass by mid-July. That could mean the end of back-room deals over cigars—at least in restaurants—by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Wheeling, W.Va., and surrounding Ohio County finally banned smoking on June 16 after a month-long legal wrangle. A county circuit court judge ruled that a new clean indoor air act could go into effect.
The original ban, ordered by the Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health, was supposed to take effect May 27. A legal challenge from the local restaurant association convinced a judge to issue a stay until the complaint, alleging inequities in how the law is worded, could be reviewed.
The day after the ban took effect, a tavern in Ohio across the river from Wheeling voluntarily went smoke-free. But the Ohio County Tavern and Restaurant Assn. is still smoking over the judge's decision. It's filing a petition to put the issue on the ballot and let voters decide.
Section sponsored by APW Wyott Innovations
Federal Obesity-Lawsuit Bill Moves Forward
The National Restaurant Association's push to bar lawyers from targeting foodservice and the retail food industry with frivolous obesity suits got a boost recently. The U.S. House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 554 in late April. The "Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act" now goes to the full House for a vote.
As of last month, 18 states had passed similar laws, and legislation was pending in another 27. Polls indicate about 90% of foodservice customers think the food industry shouldn't be sued for causing obesity anyway.
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