NYC Gazette

Seera Addresses National Security Concerns By Stopping The Flow Of Electronic Waste To China And Other Bad Actor Nations

NEW YORK, NY – The ongoing national security concerns related to the United States’ unchecked export of electronic waste (“e-waste”)—such as old cell phones, computers, servers, and other gadgets—have prompted Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) to reintroduce the Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act (SEERA). The bill would curb the flow of U.S. e-waste to China and other foreign nations, which is on track to reach 27 million tons by 2030. Upon its arrival in foreign nations, U.S. e-waste is frequently discarded in ways that are environmentally destructive or unlawfully turned into counterfeit electronics or insufficiently refurbished electronics products that are then resold as new. Concerningly, these counterfeit and unsafe electronics are often then resold to buyers in the United States, where the faulty materials can make their way into critical U.S. military equipment. 

“Technological innovation is advancing at an ever-increasing rate. With that, comes an ever-increasing amount of U.S. e-waste, in the form of used or obsolete electronics which can then be used to create counterfeit products,” said Rep. Espaillat. “In recent years, unregulated Chinese companies have regularly repurposed U.S. e-waste to create counterfeit electronics and then put these dangerous products back into the global market. Responsible disposal of our e-waste is also important for addressing climate change and protecting U.S. cybersecurity—especially with regards to e-waste which contains confidential personal or corporate information. By limiting the foreign export of e-waste and creating new standards for e-waste recycling here at home, SEERA will create thousands of U.S. jobs while simultaneously ensuring these discarded electronic products do not fall into the wrong hands.” 

“By enacting SEERA, we safeguard our nation’s security against China while protecting our future. Proper handling of electronic waste ensures critical data remains protected and that dangerous materials are handled responsibly. It will set requirements for the recycling of these products to be done domestically while creating new jobs. Passing this legislation will fortify and secure our national security and future,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. 

“We appreciate the leadership of Rep. Espaillat and Rep. Díaz-Balart in introducing this important bipartisan legislation to limit untested, nonworking e-scrap exports. Under SEERA, our industry will play an integral role to address National Security concerns, advance environmental justice issues, create a domestic source of rare earth and critical minerals, and create up to 42,000 new jobs,” said Bob Houghton, CEO of Sage Sustainable Electronics and CAER Executive Committee member. The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER), which includes over 135 e-recycling member companies.

The Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act prohibits the export of specified e-waste and outlines the process for the registration and compliance of export declarations and for the disposal of electronic waste in the United States.

Click here to read this SEERA legislation in its entirety. 

Original source can be found here.