SECTION 328.175. Manufacturer Recycling Leadership Program

(a) A group of television manufacturers may establish a recycling leadership program to provide collection, transportation, and recycling infrastructure for covered television equipment in this state.

(b) A recycling leadership program must provide at least 200 individual collection sites or programs in this state in a manner described by subsection (d) of this section where a consumer may return covered television equipment for reuse or recycling.

(c) A television manufacturer may not charge a separate fee at the time of recycling under this section unless at the time of recycling a financial incentive of equal or greater value to the fee charged is provided by the television manufacturer.

(d) Collection methods that may be used by a recycling leadership program under subsection (b) of this section for recycling of covered television equipment include the following:

(1) a system by which the television manufacturer, an entity designated by the television manufacturer, or another private or public sector entity associated with the television manufacturer offers a consumer a physical collection site to return covered television equipment;

(2) a system by which the television manufacturer, an entity designated by the television manufacturer, or another private or public sector entity associated with the television manufacturer offers the consumer a method for returning covered television equipment by mail, as long as the system provides for packaging that would prevent any spillage in case of breakage; and

(3) a system by which the television manufacturer, an entity designated by the television manufacturer, or another private or public sector entity associated with the television manufacturer holds a collection event where the consumer may return covered television equipment.

(e) A television manufacturer of covered television equipment sold in this state that is participating in a recycling leadership program for covered television equipment as of January 1 of any year is not subject during that year to:

(1) the registration fees and registration renewal fees required by §328.171(a) of this title (relating to Manufacturer's Registration and Reporting); and

(2) the reporting requirements of §328.171(d) of this title.

(f) A television manufacturer of covered television equipment that is sold in this state that participates in a recycling leadership program shall individually or through the recycling leadership program establish and implement a public education program regarding collection, reuse, and recycling opportunities that exist in this state for covered television equipment. The public education program must:

(1) inform consumers about the collection, reuse, and recycling opportunities for covered television equipment available in this state;

(2) work with the commission and other interested parties to develop educational materials that inform consumers about collection, reuse, and recycling opportunities available in this state;

(3) use television manufacturer-developed customer outreach materials, which may include packaging inserts, television manufacturers' Internet Web sites, and other communication methods, to inform consumers about collection, reuse, and recycling opportunities for covered television equipment available in this state; and

(4) use television manufacturer-developed customer outreach materials to provide rural communities with a centralized Internet-based information center that provides information for those communities about:

(A) best practices for collection, reuse, and recycling of covered television equipment; and

(B) collection events and other recycling opportunities in those communities and surrounding areas.

(g) Not later than January 31 of each year, each recycling leadership program must provide to the commission:

(1) a list of the television manufacturers participating in the program as of January 1 of that year;

(2) documentation that the recycling leadership program has established a public education program regarding collection, reuse, and recycling opportunities that exist in this state for covered television equipment; and

(3) a list of the 200 sites or programs planned by the recycling leadership program participants for the current year. A map of the sites or programs may be included with the list.

Source Note: The provisions of this §328.175 adopted to be effective May 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 2660