Texas Campaign for the Environment: Victories 2003

Producer takeback legislation is introduced in the state legislature by State Rep. Elliott Naishtat and State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos. Both bills receive hearings in the environmental committees.

Raising the ante on Dell, TCE sent activists to hold a protest at the Consumer Electronics Show where Michael Dell was a keynote speaker. The focus was on Dell's use of prison labor to recycle electronics. TCE organized a plane to fly over UT before the start of its graduation ceremonies to send a message on computer takeback to Michael Dell, the keynote speaker. In July, Dell announced it would cease using prison labor.

TCE and other campaign partners, held a "Hard Drive Across the West" to pick up Dell e-waste en route to Austin and the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. TCE ran a full-page ad in the Austin Chronicle signed by religious leaders urging Dell to take back its obsolete products. Dell agreed to take back the electronic waste collected across the west.

In October, a Dell spokesperson announced that the company would be supporting producer takeback for electronics and gave credit to TCE and the Computer Takeback Campaign for helping to bring them to that position. In December, TCE participates in face-to-face meeting with Michael Dell who voices his support for producer takeback. TCE also helps organize student groups in Texas to join student groups from all 50 states which to take a stand in favor of producer takeback.

TCE organized opposition to disposable DVDs, which were being test marketed in the Greater Austin area. TCE generated hundreds of postcards to HEB, 7-Eleven and other retailers calling for sustainable products.