Connecticut Governor Signs E-Scrap Recycling Bill

Connecticut’s Governor Jodi Rell has signed into law a new state law creating a mandatory recycling program for electronic appliances. The law will go into effect in 2009.

In a ceremonial bill signing at the Glastonbury Transfer Station, Governor Rell, said: "We chose the spot for today’s event for a reason. Imagine: In the not-too-distant future, you will be able to bring your outdated TVs and computers to a recycling center like this and know they’ll be broken down safely. What can be recycled will be, and what’s dangerous will be kept out of our environment.

Under the law, manufacturers of those devices will have to register with the state Department of Environmental Protection, starting in 2009, and pay an annual fee that DEP will use to administer the recycling program. Also in 2009 cities and towns will be required to begin providing for the recycling of the affected devices, including making arrangements for collection and transportation of the devices to a DEP-approved recycler.

The new law specifically exempts certain smaller electronic devices from the recycling requirement, including cell phones, PDAs, calculators and pagers, computers or TVs that are parts of a motor vehicle or household appliance, home telephones (unless they have a video display larger than 4 inches diagonally) and devices that are part of equipment used in an industrial, commercial or medical setting.

The new law, Public Act 07-189, takes effect October 1, except for a provision requiring the DEP to begin drawing up regulations, which takes effect July 1, and a provision allowing the DEP to join an existing regional electronics recycling organization or compact, which took effect immediately.