Going Green - Getting the Lead Out

For me the only saving grace is that military products are exempt from RoHS.

However, for the commercial market this is going to be a big impact that the consumer will end up paying for. Eventually it will become less of a burden, but there are always startup pains.

Considering California is also adopting the European RoHS standards some companies like Walmart are going to have to decide if they are going to have 2 supply chains. One for RoHS complaint states and one for the rest of the states.
I'm thinking that it will lbe more cost effective to have one supply chain than it is to worry about getting in trouble for selling the wrong product in the wrong market.

If Walmart forces more compliance to RoHS and WEEE, at least that's one good thing they've done...

This is the type of "technology story" that the mainstream media would do well to cover. There are several points with larger implications: 1) Europe, and not the United States, is leading the way. 2) Market forces, and not EPA regulations, will eventually bring U.S. companies into compliance. 3) Environmentalists who are frustrated with the current political climate would do well to look across the pond for help.