House amends SB184 to require manufacturers to report e-waste collection and sales data

The Utah House amended and passed Senate Bill 184, a bill creating a voluntary, industry-led approach to electronic-waste recycling, by a vote of 58 yes and 9 no. Representative Noel, the House sponsor, said the bill allows manufacturers, local entities and recyclers to work together in a non-bureaucratic, voluntary program to address growing e-waste.

Representative Edwards offered Amendment No. 3 to require participating manufacturers who opt into the voluntary program to report annually the number of products by units sold and the annual collection totals to the Interim Natural Resources and Interim Public Utilities committees. Edwards said those additional data points were "significant and real data that can be analyzed by the committees" and would give the industry a measuring stick without turning the program into a mandate. Supporters said the amendment would enable industry to demonstrate success and forestall the need for state mandates.

Opponents urged caution and defended the volunteer approach; Representative Malou spoke against added requirements, preferring a free-market solution. After debate the amendment passed (35 yes, 25 no) and the amended bill passed the House later in the day with the 58–9 vote and will be returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Why it matters: The floor amendment adds transparency and data collection to a voluntary program, providing interim legislative committees with unit-sales and collection totals they can use to evaluate whether a voluntary, market-driven approach is meeting recycling goals.

Vote: SB184 (as amended) — passed in the House, 58 yes, 9 no.

Ending: The House passed SB184 as amended and sent it back to the Senate for further consideration; the amendment aims to add accountability without mandating manufacturer participation.