A New Electronics Recycling Law in Pennsylvania
As of Jan. 24, consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania will no longer be allowed to throw away any electronic devices with their trash.
The Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA), passed in 2010, requires that consumers and businesses not dispose of electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, computer monitors, televisions, and tablets with their trash. This means that trash haulers will no longer take covered devices unless the municipality has a curbside electronics collection program that sends the devices to an electronics recycler.
“This law is an important step toward further reducing the amount of waste disposed in our landfills,” said Mike Krancer, DEP secretary. “There will be a host of positive impacts from this law, such as deriving economic benefits from precious metals found in electronics, eliminating heavy metals in the environment and encouraging environmental stewardship.”
Under CDRA, covered devices and their components must be properly recycled and cannot be accepted by landfills or other solid waste disposal facilities for disposal. The law also requires that manufacturers of the covered devices provide for the collection, transportation, and recycling of these devices by establishing one-day events, permanent collection programs, or mail-back programs for consumers – offered to consumers at no cost.