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DEC: New electronic waste law now in effect

by jmaloni
Mon, Jan 2nd 2012 11:55 am

Waste haulers and solid waste management facilities no longer allowed to dispose of electronic waste in New York facilities

(Via readMedia) Private and public waste haulers/transporters and solid or hazardous waste management facilities can no longer dispose of electronic waste, such as televisions, computers, computer peripherals, etc., in a solid or hazardous waste management facility located in New York, announced the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Private and public waste haulers/transporters, in accordance with the New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, are prohibited from collecting electronic waste, unless it is destined for recycling/reuse. The law also requires private and public waste haulers/transporters using waste management facilities in the state, as well as the owners or operators of such facilities, to provide their customers with written information regarding available options for recycling unwanted electronic equipment. In addition, owners and operators of solid or hazardous waste management facilities must post signs in conspicuous locations at the facilities stating the new law.

As part of this newly enacted product stewardship law, waste management facilities and waste haulers/transporters have a vital role in educating their customers on the opportunities available for recycling electronic waste. Proper recycling of unwanted electronic equipment diverts thousands of pounds of waste from landfills and incinerators; keeps toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium from potentially contaminating the air, water and soil; and conserves natural resources when valuable materials are reclaimed and reused, rather than using virgin materials.

The DEC has been overseeing implementation of the law, which shifts end-of-life costs of managing electronic waste from municipalities to product manufacturers and strongly encourages consumers to make use of the numerous free and convenient recycling opportunities available to them as part of this new law.

To learn how and where to recycle electronic waste and for a full list of the types of electronic equipment that must be recycled under the law, visit DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/66872.html. Additional guidance for waste management facilities and waste haulers/transporters, includes sample written information that may be provided to customers, is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/66894.html.

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