New Jersey bans disposal of electronic waste

Televisions, computers, cellphones and other electronic devices will not be allowed in New Jersey garbage cans and landfills after Jan. 1, 2009 under a new law signed by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine on Jan. 15 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. 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." 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.