National Computer Recycling Act of 2026

Sellate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JAN 27 All :04 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1693 Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A GRANT AND FEE PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE AND PROMOTE THE PROPER RECYCLING OF USED COMPUTERS AND ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE RECYCLING OF USED COMPUTERS EXPLANATORY NOTE The Constitution, Article II, Section 15, declares that "[t]he State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." Corollarily, Article II, Section 16 provides that "[t]he State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." This measure seeks to give concrete effect to these constitutional policies by addressing the growing volume of electronic waste, particularly from used and discarded computers, which contributes to environmental degradation and an increased carbon footprint. In a consumer-driven and market-oriented economy, technological innovation continues to advance at an accelerated pace. New technologies are rapidly developed, adopted, and replaced, fueled by the increasing demand for connectivity, digital services, and access to information. The proliferation of social media and high-speed internet has further intensified this trend. Among these technological tools, the personal computer (PC) has become one of the most widely used devices since its emergence as a household and personal utility in the late 1980s. However, the rapid turnover of computer technology has

resulted in a corresponding increase in discarded and obsolete units, as consumers frequently replace older models with newer, faster, and more efficient ones. The volume of discarded computers presents serious environmental and public health concerns. Without proper regulation, used and obsolete computers-many of which contain hazardous and non-biodegradable components-may be improperly disposed of, posing risks to human health and causing contamination of soil, water, and the surrounding environment. This bill seeks to institutionalize a grant and fee program designed to encourage and promote the proper recycling and responsible disposal of used computers. It likewise aims to support the development of a comprehensive national infrastructure for computer recycling, thereby reducing electronic waste and mitigating its harmful environmental and health impacts. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID Senator

Senate Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JAN 27 A11:04 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: 1693 S. No. — Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A GRANT AND FEE PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE AND PROMOTE THE PROPER RECYCLING OF USED COMPUTERS AND ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE RECYCLING OF USED COMPUTERS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Computer

2 Recycling Act of 2026".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in 5 accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. The State shall also protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 7 To this end, the State shall endeavor to institutionalize a computer recycling program 8 that would minimize the dumping of non-biodegradable and/or hazardous waste from 9 discarded computer parts.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(A) "Cathode Ray Tube"refers to a vacuum tube or picture tube used to convert an electronic signal into a visual image; (B) "Central Processing Unit" or "CPU" refers to a case and all of its contents, such as the primary printed circuit board and its components, additional

printed circuit boards, one or more disc drives, a transformer, interior wires, and a power cord; (C) "Computer" refers to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions, and may include both a central processing unit and a monitor, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand-held calculator, or other similar device; (D) "End-user"refers to the individual for whom a hardware product is designed from the developers, installers, and servicers of the product; (E) "Hazardous waste" refers to substances that are without any safe commercial, industrial, agricultural, or economic usage and are shipped, transported, or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal into or in transit through any part of the territory of the Philippines. It shall also refer to by-products, side-products, process residues, spent reaction media, contaminated plant or equipment or other substances from manufacturing operations, and as consumer discards of manufactured products; (F) "Monitor" refers to a separate visual display component of a computer, whether sold separately or together with a central processing unit, and includes a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal, or light-emitting diode display, its case, interior wires and circuitry, cable to the central processing unit, and power cord; (G) "Non-profit organization" refers to an organization incorporated as an entity paying no dividends, governed by trustees who receive no compensation, and devoting all its income, whether fees or gifts, donation, subsidies or other forms of philanthropy, to the accomplishment and promotion of the purposes enumerated in its Articles of Incorporation; and (H) "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Sec. 4. Fee. -

(A) Requirement. - Effective one hundred eighty (180) days after the transmittal to the Congress the results of the study conducted under Section 7(A), the Secretary shall require that a fee be assessed on the sale, including a sale through the Internet or a catalogue, to an end-user of any computer, monitor, or other electronic device designated by the Secretary under paragraph (C). The Secretary shall establish procedures for the collection of such fee. The requirement under this section shall not apply to a sale by an end-user to a subsequent end-user. (B) Fee Amount. The amount of the fee required under subsection (A) shall - (1) Be an amount sufficient to cover the costs of carrying out section 5(A) and paragraph (C) of this section; (2) Be uniform - (a) For each computer with a central processing unit and monitor integrated in a single device; (b) For each central processing unit; (c) For each monitor; and (d) For each class of other devices designated by the Secretary under paragraph (C); (3) Not exceed Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) per computer, monitor, or other designated device; and (4) Be clearly indicated on the label, external packing materials, or sales receipt of the computer, monitor, or device. (C) Administrative Costs. - Persons required by the Secretary to collect a fee under this section may retain three percent (3%) of amounts so collected to pay the costs of administering the fee collection program. (D) Exempted Sales. - Non-profit organizations who engage in the sale of a used computer, monitor, or any other electronic device shall be exempt from the fee requirements under this section. (E) Additional Exemption. - The Secretary may exempt from the fee requirements under this section any sale made under a contract or an arrangement that the Secretary determines is likely to result in the

maximum reuse of significant components of the computer, monitor, or device, and the disposal of the remaining components - (1) In an environmentally sound and responsible manner; (2) Without violation of any Philippine law; and (3) Without reliance on funding from the government, when the computer, monitor, or device is no longer of normal use to the end- user. (F) Designation of Electronic Devices. - The Secretary may designate additional electronic devices to which the fee under paragraph (A) shall apply if those electronic devices - (1) Contain a significant amount of material that, when disposed of, would be hazardous waste; and (2) Include one or more liquid crystal displays, cathode ray tubes, or circuit boards.

Sec. 5. Grants. -

(A) Uses of Fee Amounts. - Amounts collected under Section 4 shall be used, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, by the Secretary for - (1) Covering the costs of administration of this Act; and (2) Making grants under paragraph (B). Not more than ten percent (10%) of the funds available pursuant to this Act for any fiscal year may be used for costs described in paragraph (1). (B) Grant Purposes. - The Secretary shall make grants with funds collected under Section 4 to individuals or organizations, including units of local government, for - (1) Collecting or processing used computers, monitors, or other designated devices for recycling purposes; (2) Reusing or reselling such computers, monitors, or devices, or components thereof; and

(3) Extracting and using, or selling for reuse, raw materials from such computers, monitors, or devices. (C) Eligibility. - An individual or organization shall be eligible for a grant under paragraph (B) only if the individual or organization provides assurances to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it will carry out the grant purposes in a manner that complies with all applicable Philippine environmental and health laws. (D) Selection Criteria. - In selecting proposals for grants under paragraph (B), the Secretary shall consider - (1) The quantity of used computers, monitors, or other designated devices that will be diverted from landfills; (2) The estimated cost per unit of the collection, processing, reuse, or sale proposed; (3) The availability of, and potential for, markets for recycled materials; (4) The degree to which the proposal mitigates or avoids harmful environmental or health effects; and (5) The degree to which the proposal employs innovative recycling technologies; and (6) The demonstrated history of the grant applicant in disposing of or providing for the reuse of computers, monitors, or devices in an environmentally sound and responsible manner without violation of any law. Provided, That the grant applicant is an entity already engaged in the activities outlined under paragraph (B) prior to the effectivity of this Act. The Secretary shall ensure that grants are provided to a geographically diverse group of recipients.

Sec. 6. Consultation. - In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall consult with

representatives of the computer manufacturing, retail, and recycling industries, waste management professionals, environmental and consumer groups, and other appropriate individuals and organizations, including local government units.

Sec. 7. Study and Reports. -

(A) Study. - Within six (6) months after the date of effectivity of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study and transmit the results to Congress, which shall - (1) Identify waste materials in used computers that may be hazardous to human health or the environment; (2) Describe current management of such waste materials; (3) Estimate the quantities of such materials that exist or will exist in the future, including a separate estimate of the quantities of such materials that are exported to the Philippines; (4) Estimate the costs of transporting, collecting, and processing computers, monitors, and other designated devices; (5) Estimate the demand for materials from recycled computers, and make recommendations for increasing the markets for such materials; and (6) Make recommendation for the management of electronic products containing such waste materials at the end of their useful lives. (B) Reports. - Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for four additional years, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report on the status of computer recycling. Such report shall include a description of the amount of fees collected under

Section 4, and a description of the amount of administrative costs paid for

and grants made under Section 5 with funds collected through such fees.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after

the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DENR shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

2 order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 4 accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

6 publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,