China to Provide Fund to Encourage Recycling of Computers, TVs

China plans to set up a fund to support recycling of computers and televisions as rising living standards spur an increase in electronic waste in the world's fastest-growing major economy.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, approved a draft law to regulate the treatment of used electronics and home appliances, according to a statement posted late yesterday on the central government Web site. It includes establishing a fund to encourage recycling in an effort to reduce pollution.

The law also denotes the responsibility of manufacturers, retailers and recycling companies for the collection and handling of waste, the statement said, without elaborating. The law will undergo further revisions before implementation, it said.

Unregulated recycling of old computers, mobile telephones and home appliances exposes workers and the environment in Asia to toxic substances such as heavy metals, according to the environmental group Greenpeace.