New electronics recycling law in effect Jan. 1

The new year is here and with it comes new resolutions and changes. One change to keep in mind is the New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act. The new law prohibits certain types of electronic waste from being thrown in the trash and calls on consumers to take care of their electronics disposal in a responsible, efficient way.

As of Jan. 1, this act will take effect and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is urging New York residents to avoid placing electronics in the trash and to recycle them to prevent unnecessary harm to the environment. By disposing and/or incinerating unwanted computers, televisions and other electronics, potentially hazardous materials can enter the air and soil.

"Incinerating electronic waste or disposing of it in a landfill can potentially put hazardous materials into the air and soil," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "New York state law requires manufacturers to provide recycling of electronic waste for consumers."

In New York, residents generate an average of more than 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day, including electronics. A wide range of products includes electronic materials. For consumers, the question remains: how to dispose of them?

The new act specifies that the manufacturer of the electronic device is responsible for the proper recycling of it. The consumer is responsible for disposing of unwanted electronic devices to an electronic waste recycling facility.

An electronic waste recycling facility is a site where the materials, components or commodities in electronic waste are separated, dismantled or processed for their use or reuse in new products. Processes may include combustion, gasification, pyrolysis or other means. Recycling includes the manual and mechanical separation of electronic waste to recover materials, components or commodities for the purpose of reuse. It also includes changing the physical or chemical composition of electronic waste to segregate those components for purposes of recycling.

Local recycling facilities include Niagara Metals, 4861 Packard Road, Niagara Falls, and Computer & Electronics Recycling, 1738 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

For more information on recycling options and locations, visit http://bit.ly/NYewaste.