In a move that has been applauded by environmentalists nationwide, Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed into law new legislation that will force TV manufacturers and big box stores to take back old TVs and dispose of them properly. According to Earth911.com, this will help to remove tons of hazardous materials from landfills, such as lead, mercury and other caustic substances.

One of the biggest concerns for proponents of the bill is in regards to old-fashioned cathode ray tube TVs. These devices can contain between four and eight pounds of lead, which if left in a landfill will break down and could seep into the groundwater. Even newer flat-screen televisions are known to use mercury-filled bulbs to light the screen. The new law will go a long way in giving Texans the option to recycle these appliance, while putting the onus on the manufacturers to start designing products that are easy to recycle and reuse.

"Producer takeback recycling ends the existing system of local taxpayers subsidizing waste, shifting the cost of waste management from government to producers," advocates at TexasTakeBack.org, told the news source. "By making the producer responsible for their end of life products, there is a market-based incentive to start designing for reuse, recycling and with safer materials."

In a surprise to many environmentalists, The Consumer Electronics Association, which represents 2,000 companies, supported the measure. This show of support speaks to the growing need for corporate responsibility and for companies to follow their products from the shelves to the recycling bin. Best of all, this sort of legislation will take the burden off of the tax payers, who have been paying for the cleanup and recycling costs for these spent materials.