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2012: A new year and a new ban on e-waste

by jmaloni
Wed, Jan 4th 2012 11:40 am

More on the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act

Beginning January 1, 2012, any organization engaged in the collection of solid waste for delivery to a New York state solid waste management facility (i.e. private or municipal solid waste haulers/transporters), businesses, private or public corporations, not-for-profit corporations and government entities are prohibited from disposing of electronic equipment in landfills. Exceptions to the current law include individuals or household consumers.

Electronic equipment, under the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, from any person other than an individual, or household consumer, is prohibited from being landfilled. This includes any organization engaged in the collection of solid waste for delivery to a state solid waste management facility (i.e. private or municipal solid waste haulers/transporters), businesses, private or public corporations, not-for-profit corporations and government entities, etc.

In April of 2011, the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act took effect, which in short holds electronics manufacturers accountable for providing a free and convenient means for New Yorkers to responsibly recycle old, broken, used or unwanted covered electronic equipment (CEE). The law is designed to take effect in three stages over the course of four years:

April 1, 2011 - CEE from any electronic equipment manufacturer, retailer, or owner or operator of an electronic waste collection site, consolidation facility, or recycling facility is prohibited from being landfilled.

Jan. 1, 2012 - CEE from any person other than an individual, or household consumer is prohibited from being landfilled. This includes any organization engaged in the collection of solid waste for delivery to a state solid waste management facility (i.e. private or municipal solid waste haulers/transporters), businesses, private or public corporations, not-for-profit corporations and government entities, etc.

Jan. 1, 2015 - CEE from any person, including individual and household consumers, is prohibited from being landfilled. 

The second stage of the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act took effect just a few days ago, banning the disposal of CEE in landfills from any organization engaged in the collection of solid waste for delivery to a state solid waste management facility (i.e. private or municipal solid waste haulers/transporters), businesses, private or public corporations, not-for-profit corporations and government entities, etc., and dictates that the owner or operator of a solid waste management facility or hazardous waste management facility must educate users of such facility on the proper methods for the recycling of electronic waste. Such education shall include:

  • Providing written information to users (i.e. residents, businesses, waste haulers/transporters, etc.) of such facility regarding the proper methods for recycling electronic waste; and
  • Posting, in conspicuous locations at such facility, signs stating that electronic waste may not be disposed of at the facility as required by the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act.

Sunnking currently has 33 electronics-recycling drop-off locations, and organizes multiple electronics recycling drives for state residents. Collection sites, recycling drives, and current clients contributed to the collection of almost 5 million pounds of CEE in 2011. An additional 7 to 10 million pounds of electronics and equipment not currently covered under the state Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act were also recycled by Sunnking, preventing hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and other heavy metals from polluting the environment.

"We are always looking for new opportunities to assist municipalities, businesses and other organizations in registering with Sunnking and the DEC to become an electronics-recycling drop-off site," says Zachary Hussion, Sunnking's marketing and program manager. "The registration process is very simple, and we are able to provide all of the supplies necessary to safely and properly package collected e-scrap, and transport the material to our main recycling facility in Brockport, N.Y., at no cost to registered e-scrap drop-off sites. Sunnking will also provide a monetary incentive to each collection site based on the volume of CEE collected."

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a Sunnking electronics collection site should email [email protected] or call 585-637-8365 for more information regarding registering as an e-scrap drop-off site or hosting an e-scrap collection event.

About Sunnking Inc.

Founded in 2000, Sunnking Inc. is New York State's first EPA R2 certified electronics recycling, data destruction and asset management company dealing in end-of-life electronics and equipment. Their facilities located in Buffalo, Rochester and Brockport specialize in collecting, refurbishing, reselling and recycling equipment and electronic products from residential and commercial suppliers throughout New York and surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.sunnking.com.

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