Texas Campaign for the Environment
Encyclopedia
The Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) is a grassroots
advocacy
501(c)(4) Non-profit organization
that works on health and environmental issue
s in the state of Texas
in the United States. TCE began when its founders parted ways with Texans United in 1991. The organization has offices in Dallas
, Austin
and Houston
.
One of TCE's major victories was closing the Grandfather Loophole in the Texas Clean Air Act, forcing older industrial facilities to install modern pollution control systems. Currently focused on waste and recycling issues, TCE has organized communities near landfills and trash facilities to oppose major expansions and advocate for increased recycling programs in Texas. TCE is working to implement Zero waste
strategies and is a member of the Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance.
TCE has a special focus on electronic waste
and its negative effects in Texas, the U.S. and worldwide, and is a leading member of the Electronics TakeBack Coalitionhttp://www.computertakeback.com. TCE made headlines in 2004 when it successfully pressured Dell
to offer free, worldwide computer recycling
for consumers and again in 2005 by pressuring Apple Computer
s to follow suit. In 2007, TCE built a broad coalition of environmental groups, local governments, electronics producers, and recyclers that resulted in the passage of producer takeback recycling (also known as extended producer responsibility
) legislation in Texas. House Bill 2714 was unanimously passed and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry
on June 17, 2007. This law requires all computer companies who wish to sell their products in the state to develop convenient, free recycling programs for their consumers. TCE then worked to pass a similar bill that would require television companies to take back and recycle their obsolete products as well. This legislation passed easily but was vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. However, TCE helped convince major TV manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, LG/Zenith and Panasonic to begin voluntary recycling programs before the 2009 Digital television transition
. As of 2010, TCE is working to pass national legislation to restrict the exportation of toxic electronic waste to developing countries overseas. The organization is currently headed by Robin Schneider, who has been featured in several books on electronic waste such as Challenging the Chip
.
The primary tool of TCE is canvassing
. Five to six days a week, TCE organizers head out into Texas residential areas and go door-to-door educating citizens on current issues and getting them involved by collecting membership contributions and having them write letters to corporate, federal, state and local figures. TCE has won numerous awards and is a leading voice on environmental issues in Texas.
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
501(c)(4) Non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that works on health and environmental issue
Environmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
s in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the United States. TCE began when its founders parted ways with Texans United in 1991. The organization has offices in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
One of TCE's major victories was closing the Grandfather Loophole in the Texas Clean Air Act, forcing older industrial facilities to install modern pollution control systems. Currently focused on waste and recycling issues, TCE has organized communities near landfills and trash facilities to oppose major expansions and advocate for increased recycling programs in Texas. TCE is working to implement Zero waste
Zero waste
Zero waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. Any trash sent to landfills and incinerators is minimal. The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature...
strategies and is a member of the Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance.
TCE has a special focus on electronic waste
Electronic waste
Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its...
and its negative effects in Texas, the U.S. and worldwide, and is a leading member of the Electronics TakeBack Coalitionhttp://www.computertakeback.com. TCE made headlines in 2004 when it successfully pressured Dell
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
to offer free, worldwide computer recycling
Computer recycling
Computer recycling or electronic recycling is the recycling or reuse of computers or other electronics. It includes both finding another use for materials , and having systems dismantled in a manner that allows for the safe extraction of the constituent materials for reuse in other...
for consumers and again in 2005 by pressuring Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
s to follow suit. In 2007, TCE built a broad coalition of environmental groups, local governments, electronics producers, and recyclers that resulted in the passage of producer takeback recycling (also known as extended producer responsibility
Extended producer responsibility
Extended producer responsibility is a strategy designed to promote the integration of environmental costs associated with goods throughout their life cycles into the market price of the products.- Definition :...
) legislation in Texas. House Bill 2714 was unanimously passed and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
on June 17, 2007. This law requires all computer companies who wish to sell their products in the state to develop convenient, free recycling programs for their consumers. TCE then worked to pass a similar bill that would require television companies to take back and recycle their obsolete products as well. This legislation passed easily but was vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. However, TCE helped convince major TV manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, LG/Zenith and Panasonic to begin voluntary recycling programs before the 2009 Digital television transition
Digital television transition
The digital television transition is the process in which analog television broadcasting is converted to and replaced by digital television. This primarily involves both TV stations and over-the-air viewers; however it also involves content providers like TV networks, and cable television...
. As of 2010, TCE is working to pass national legislation to restrict the exportation of toxic electronic waste to developing countries overseas. The organization is currently headed by Robin Schneider, who has been featured in several books on electronic waste such as Challenging the Chip
Challenging the Chip
Challenging the Chip is a 2006 book on "labor rights and environmental justice in the global electronics industry". It is published by Temple University Press, Philadelphia. In three parts, the book looks at global electronics, environmental justice and labor rights, and electronic waste and...
.
The primary tool of TCE is canvassing
Canvassing
Canvassing is the systematic initiation of direct contact with a target group of individuals commonly used during political campaigns. A campaign team will knock on doors of private residences within a particular geographic area, engaging in face-to-face personal interaction with voters...
. Five to six days a week, TCE organizers head out into Texas residential areas and go door-to-door educating citizens on current issues and getting them involved by collecting membership contributions and having them write letters to corporate, federal, state and local figures. TCE has won numerous awards and is a leading voice on environmental issues in Texas.
See also
- Green computingGreen computingGreen computing or green IT, refers to environmentally sustainable computing or IT. In the article Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices, San Murugesan defines the field of green computing as "the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers,...
- Computer recyclingComputer recyclingComputer recycling or electronic recycling is the recycling or reuse of computers or other electronics. It includes both finding another use for materials , and having systems dismantled in a manner that allows for the safe extraction of the constituent materials for reuse in other...
- Electronic wasteElectronic wasteElectronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its...
- Zero wasteZero wasteZero waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. Any trash sent to landfills and incinerators is minimal. The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature...
- Texas Commission on Environmental QualityTexas Commission on Environmental QualityThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is the environmental agency for the U.S. state of Texas. The commission is headquartered at 12100 Park 35 Circle in Austin....