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Chris Fall
Manager of Public Sector Services
Lisa Hemenway
Recycling Compliance Manager - Antelope Valley
Karen Erstad
Community Relations Manager - Antelope Valley
Amy Wiese
Recycling Compliance Manager - Santa Clarita Valley
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Chuck White, Director of Regulatory Affairs,
Waste Management
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Electronic waste now represents almost 5% of the waste stream, and it is continuing to grow. This is a problem that has developed in just that last 20 years and has quickly reached crisis proportions due to the rapid rate of obsolescence of electronic devices - in many cases after only 2 to 3 years. People are finding that their TVs and computers can be replaced far more cheaply than they can be upgraded. Further, it's been difficult to find places to recycle these devices, and, to add insult to injury, in many cases the consumer is expected to pay for the recycling of these devices. So... many people have just been throwing them in the trash. But the State of California has determined that most electronic gadgets are hazardous waste when recycled or discarded. The good news is that the State, and service providers like Waste Management, are moving aggressively to provide safe and secure management options for these devices.
Televisions and Computer Monitors Can Now be Recycled - For Free!
California recently enacted landmark legislation to facilitate the recycling and recovering of televisions and computer monitors. Starting in January of 2005, most TVs and monitors sold in California were accompanied by a fee of $6 to $10 per unit either charged to the purchaser or paid by the manufacturer or retailer. These funds are put into a state administered fund that is used to reimburse service providers and recyclers for the cost of collecting and properly recycling these devices -- in most instances at absolutely no additional cost to the consumer.
Cell Phones Recycling to be Mandated in 2006
Starting in July 2006, every retailer of cell phones must provide a system for taking back cell phones at no cost to the consumer. This will include the take-back of any used phone brought to the retailer at the time a new cell phone is purchased or the take back of any cell phone that was previously purchased from that retailer (proof of purchase may be required).
Household Battery Take-Back May be Coming
Legislation (AB 1125, Pavley) is currently pending in the California legislature to address the collection and recycling of household batteries. The current form of this legislation is very similar to the cell phone legislation described above. After July 1, 2006, every retailer of household batteries would have to take-back used household batteries at no cost to the consumer. However, this proposed legislation is not yet law and must be enacted by the California legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in order to become effective.
Fluorescent Tube Recycling: Off to a Slower Start
Fluorescent Tubes contain mercury, one of the most toxic elements in nature, and are regulated as hazardous waste by the State of California. Large businesses are currently required to manage fluorescent tubes as hazardous waste. Starting in February, 2006 current state regulations will require small businesses and households to manage fluorescent tubes as hazardous waste - and no longer discard them in the trash. Unfortunately, there is not a sufficiently mature recycling structure yet established in most of California for the cost-effective collection and recycling of fluorescent tubes. Recent legislative attempts to establish programs have failed. The State of California may extend the date for households and small businesses to start managing fluorescent tubes as hazardous waste - but they have not done so yet. For more information on safely managing fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing wastes, go to:
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Mercury.
There will be a lot of additional activity in future years regarding the management of electronic waste in California - and we're not alone. The European Union is currently developing standards for the collection and recycling of anything that has a "cord" or uses a "battery". California policy makers are increasingly looking to the EU for ideas on how to manage California's growing electronic waste stream. Stay tuned for future developments.
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