Green Daily

New York City passed a tough E-waste bill earlier this year that would require electronics makers to get meet recycling benchmarks. Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed the bill, saying it violates interstate commerce laws, but City Council yesterday overrode that veto.

Both Council and the Mayor have already agreed on legislation that requires electronics manufacturers to take back used gadgets and appliance. But Bloomberg balked at setting touch penalties for non-compliance. Now that City Council has overridden his veto, the new bill effectively becomes a law -- but it's up to the mayor's office to enforce that law. And since the law doesn't actually take effect until 2012, when Bloomberg will no longer be in office, it's anybody's guess as to whether the law will actually be enforced or if the issue will be decided in the courts.

If the law does ever actually go into effect, electronics manufacturers would be required to recycle at least 25% of their items that are sold in New York City. If they fail to meet that target, they will have to pay $50,000 for each percentage point they're off by.