[image by David J]
But at least you’re encouraging e-waste recycling :)
You probably didn’t know this, but if you bought your TV, laptop, or computer monitor in California on or after Jan 1, 2005, you paid an additional $6-$10 fee to help recycle it.
Under the e-Waste Collection and Recycling Act, retailers are required to add a disposal fee to CRT-based (cathode-ray tube, the technology used in most televisions and computer display screens) products sold in California.
These fees are then paid out to qualified e-waste collectors and recyclers to allow an environmentally-safe afterlife for the CRT-based products. In fact, these payouts are making e-waste recycling is a money-making business in California, despite the fact that, even now, only about 10% of e-waste is recycled.
More on Worldchanging Los Angeles.
Small price to pay, but entirely wasteful and useless if it turns out that e-waste isn’t being dealt with properly after all. Where would that money go, then?
Comment by Lynn — February 22, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Yes, |I just bought a computer and noticed the $8 fee for e-waste recycling. But my problem is the nearest e-waste recycler is at UC|LA but only open 1-day/week on Saturday. Why can’t it be open more days/week|? Also, they need to publicize the need for recyling e-waste more, as most people don’t know about it.
Also, is a microwave considered e-waste and should it be recycled|?
Comment by |Julia — February 22, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Darlings — I hear ya with the difficulty of getting people to go to the recycling places — which is why I’m wondering — Did you follow the link to the Worldchanging LA article? At the bottom, there’s a link to a piece I wrote about Amoeba Music — which is accepting ewaste in stores AND is open long, regular hours to boot :)
One thing I unfortunately think people need to recycle is monetary compensation — like for our bottles and stuff. If people could at least get a few bucks back for recycling properly, I think more people would take it more seriously and that the need to recycle ewaste would travel faster. Considering how 90% of the recycling “market” is still out there, I’m wondering if some of the recyclers might institute a “cash back” program of some sorts….
Comment by Siel — February 22, 2007 @ 9:59 am
In Ireland we have the WEEE tax. When someone buys an electronic device they have to pay an extra tax to cover recycling. The bonus is you can bring the old device to the shop where you are buying the new one and the shop has to take it back and get it recycled. I think the WEEE tax actually came from the European Union but I dont know if other countries have introduced it yet.
Comment by Declan — February 22, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Do you know what the WEEE stands for? Sounds fun :) Also, was wondering — Is there a monetary incentive (money back? rebates?) for customers who bring the old device back?
Comment by Siel — February 22, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Not as fun as you think, it stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It is an EU introduced tax. Nope, no monetary incentive for bringing back an old device, other than it is awkward to dispose of them otherwise and to dispose of them legally in some other way you would have to pay. If you throw a TV in the garbage the garbage men throw a fit, even if you dont get a fine you will find the TV sitting in your driveway beside your empty garbage can :-)
We dont really do rebates or the like here anyway, the price you see is the price you pay.
Comment by Declan — February 23, 2007 @ 1:29 am
Our garbage collectors don’t seem to bat an eyelash at dumped ewaste :( They just haul it into the truck.
Comment by Siel — February 25, 2007 @ 1:38 pm