The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says it has begun advising consumers and businesses on new rules for recycling electronic devices that will go into effect in early 2013.
Enacted in 2010, the Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act prohibits consumers from disposing of covered electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, monitors and televisions, with their trash. The Pennsylvania law stipulates that waste haulers should not accept these devices unless the city being serviced has a curbside collection program for the equipment, the DEP says.
The law also requires manufacturers of the electronics to provide for the collection, transportation and recycling of these devices by establishing one-day events, permanent collection programs or mail-back programs.
Consumers can find more information on registered manufacturers and where to recycle covered devices at www.dep.state.pa.us, using the keyword “electronics recycling.”
