Maine joins EU and Japan in detailing who pays to recycle computers, TVs
A first-in-the-USA law went into effect Wednesday in the state of Maine, requiring makers of televisions and computer monitors to pick up the tab to recycle and safely dispose of their products once they are discarded. Under the law, which mirrors the approach taken in Europe and Japan, manufacturers must shoulder the cost of sending electronics to recycling centers where toxic materials such as lead and mercury are removed. "It's time to bring them out of the attics, out of the garages, out of the closets, out of the basements," said Jon Hinck of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which lobbied for the new law. Up until now, Maine communities charged people $15 to $20 to dispose of their electronic gear. Under the new law, consumers can drop off their TVs and computer screens for $2 apiece. Maine has approved five consolidators that will gather and sort the "e-waste," send it to recyclers and bill manufacturers for the cost according to the amount of waste they originated, said David Littell, acting commissioner of environmental protection.
Disposal costs for "orphan units" whose manufacturers are no longer in business will be shared by the other companies in proportion to their overall costs.
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