United States Legislation and Regulation

Federal

There is no existing or pending federal restriction or prohibition on the use of lead in electronics. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates the disposal of lead containing wastes. Manufacturers that process 100 or more pounds of lead are required to file annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulate workers exposure to lead.

State

While many U.S. states are actively developing waste electronics legislation, California is the only state currently restricting the importation, manufacture, or sale of lead containing electronics. In late 2005, New York City passed requirments that require electronics purchased the city to comply with RoHS type restrictions.