New Jersey Bans Electronic Waste Disposal

New Jersey Bans Electronic Waste Disposal

January 2008  - Televisions, computers, 
cellphones and other electronic devices will not be allowed in New Jersey 
garbage cans and landfills after January 1, 2009 under a new law signed by 
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine Tuesday because of the toxic materials 
they contain. 
"The type of waste generated by televisions and computers, while 
relatively small in volume, accounts for a significant percentage of this 
nation's toxic waste," the governor said. 
"The electronic waste stream that will be required to be recycled under 
this bill can contain significant and dangerous levels of a wide variety 
of materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and PCBs," he said. 
In addition to a disposal ban, Electronic Waste Recycling Act requires 
electronics producers to pay state registration fees from $5,000 a year. 
Governor Corzine said he would have placed a "conditional veto" on this 
bill "had that option been available" because of its impact on 
manufacturers, both in New Jersey and elsewhere. 
To ensure fairness and equity in the application and administration of 
this law, Corzine says he has asked the Department of Environmental 
Protection to work with this bill's sponsors in order "to further craft 
and refine this measure." 
The legislation was sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, John McKeon, 
Upendra Chivukula and Senator Robert Gordon. 

"Many people don't realize that their television sets and computers are 
veritable compendiums of the periodic table," said Gusciora. "The circuit 
boards, batteries and liquid crystal displays can produce a threat to 
human health and the environment. This new law will make it as easy for 
New Jersey residents to responsibly dispose of these products as it is for 
them to be purchased." 
The law will require every retailer to clearly post and provide 
information from the state's Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, 
that will describe how to recycle the covered electronic device, in 
addition to the locations for the collection or return of the device. 
The DEP will offer a website, a toll-free telephone number, information 
included in the packaging, or information with the sale of an electronic 
device covered under the law, such as a television or copier. 
"Consumer electronic products become obsolete at staggering rates," said 
McKeon. "The tossing of old computers, cell phones, and other devices 
present overwhelming challenges and it is an area of waste disposal that 
needs prompt and thorough attention by the state." 
The new law directs the DEP to post a plan that will establish the 
per-capita collection and recycling goals and maintain lists of all 
manufacturers in compliance with the act's requirements and names of 
collectors, transporters, and recyclers that meet specific performance 
standards. 
"While electronic waste still represents only a small portion of the 
overall waste stream, its potential impact on the environment and public 
health is enormous," said Chivukula. "We have to get a better handle on 
the problem." 
"Yesterday's hottest electronic trend too often ends up as today's 
environmental headache," said Gordon. "The days of allowing the disposal 
of electronic devices to be legal should be numbered." 
Manufacturers or groups of manufacturers conducting their own collection, 
transportation, and recycling programs will submit annual reports to the 
DEP, which will include the results of an auditable sampling with the 
weight of the electronic waste as well as documentation verifying 
collection and recycling. 
Manufacturers that collect, transport, and recycle covered electronic 
devices in excess of their obligation may sell their excess credits to 
another registrant or apply the excess credits to the following year's 
recycling obligation. 
Any manufacturer that fails to comply with the terms of its approved plan 
will be required to pay the DEP to cover the cost of collecting, 
transporting and recycling the unmet portion of its obligation, plus a 
penalty fee equal to the cost of collecting, transporting and recycling 10 
percent of the manufacturer's total obligation. 
New Jersey joins California, Connecticut, Washington, Maryland, Maine, 
Minnesota and Oregon as states that have enacted laws to control e-waste 
and encourage the recycling of electronic products. 

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