New York Enforces Reuse and Recycling of WEEE

05 January 2011

New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has outlawed both public and private operators from collecting electronic waste in the state unless it is to be reused or recycled.

DEC said that it has been overseeing implementation of the law which shifts end-of-life costs of managing electronic waste from municipalities to product manufacturers and encourages consumers to make use of the recycling opportunities available to them as part of this new law.

According to DEC, private and public waste haulers/transporters and solid or hazardous waste management facilities will no longer be allowed to dispose of electronic waste, such as televisions, computers, computer peripherals, etc., in a solid or hazardous waste management facility located in the state.

As part of this newly enacted product stewardship law, DEC said that waste management facilities and waste haulers/transporters will play a pivotal role in educating their customers on the opportunities available for recycling electronic waste.

Proper recycling of unwanted electronic equipment diverts thousands of pounds of waste from landfills and incinerators; keeps toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium from potentially contaminating the air, water and soil and conserves natural resources when valuable materials are reclaimed and reused, rather than using virgin materials.

Furthermore, the law requires both private and public waste haulers/transporters using waste management facilities in the state, as well as the owners or operators of such facilities, to provide their customers with written information regarding available options for recycling unwanted electronic equipment.

The new regulations came into effect as of the start of 2012.

In addition, owners and operators of solid or hazardous waste management facilities must post signs in conspicuous locations at the facilities stating the new law.

The following is an example of written information which may be provided to users of the above facilities or hauler/transporter services:

New York State law requires manufacturers to take responsibility for recycling many types of electronic equipment they have produced, such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions, small scale servers, and small electronic equipment, etc. Manufacturers now provide free and convenient acceptances programs for NYS consumers to properly reuse and recycle their waste electronic equipment.

Beginning January 1, 2012, with the exception of individual and household consumers, all other NYS consumers including businesses, private or public corporations, not for profit corporations and government entities, etc. may not dispose of, or place for collection intended for disposal, electronic waste (such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions, small scale servers, and small electronic equipment, etc.) at a solid or hazardous waste management facility in the state.

Beginning January 1, 2015, this disposal ban will apply to all persons in the state, including individual and household consumers.

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