Starting early next year, a new law on WEEE disposal will require manufacturers across New York state to offer free programs enabling citizens to drop off their unwanted electrical and electronic items for reuse or recycling.
The collection programs begin on April 11, 2011, and after such time manufacturers will be banned from disposing of WEEE at landfills. From 15 January consumers will be also banned from disposing of WEEE at landfills or in their household bins.
The amount of waste manufacturers will be required to recycle will be directly proportional to the amount they produce, and the figure will be calculated based on each company’s market share of electronic sales in New York. Companies that collect more waste than they need to will earn ‘recycling credits’ that they can save, trade or sell, and companies that do not collect enough will face fines that will help fund state-run recycling programs.
This new law in an improvement to the law passed for New York City in 2008 which demanded collection programs but did not hold manufacturers accountable to recycle a percentage of the amount they sell. At the time the mayor felt that this ruling could end up penalizing companies for the failure of consumers to recycle.
The new state law covers electronics like television sets, computers, printers, keyboards and DVD and MP3 players, but excludes items like refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers and microwaves.
New York is the 23rd state to pass a WEEE law.
See also:
New York expands recycling goals
