A Lesson in Civics and Government

In a rare show of defiance, the New York City Council (once famously compared to a rubber stamp, except that a rubber stamp leaves an impression) passed an interesting law which will require electronics manufacturers to develop recycling programs for their products in New York City. The law also set penalties which, as of 2010, will be levied against anyone caught throwing electronic devices in the garbage.

Now, I'm all for producer responsibility and stronger penalties for breaking the city's recycling law. Who isn't? Well, I guess the answer is "Mayor Bloomberg" because he is expected to veto the law. If the Council overrides the veto, he has pledged to ignore the law and will refuse to enforce it. Whoa.

Can he do that legally? No, but it will take a lot of legal challenges to move this law forward, making it essentially pointless for a long time to come. It's a shame, but maybe the long wait will give us all some time get a similar law passed on the state or federal level, where it really belongs.

For more on this law and the legal showdown to come, click here.