The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has announced that starting Jan. 1, 2010, it will be illegal for consumers and businesses to dispose of computers, monitors and televisions at disposal sites, including landfills, transfer stations and incinerators. The Oregon law is part of 2007 legislation that also created a free, statewide recycling program for these items.
Penalties for anyone knowingly violating the disposal ban may be as high as $500 for each violation. Each computer, monitor or TV that is disposed of improperly is considered a separate violation.
“Throwing away TVs, computers and monitors will be illegal, but the ban will serve as an important incentive for Oregonians to deal with these unwanted items in a manner that does not harm the environment,” said Kathy Kiwala, manager of the Oregon E-Cycles Program.
The program, launched January 2009, provides a network of more than 220 collection sites and services statewide that offer free recycling of televisions, computers and monitors. Electronics manufacturers finance Oregon E-Cycles and jointly implement the program with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
A list of collection sites statewide that accept computers, monitors and televisions is available from the Oregon E-Cycles website at www.oregonecycles.org.
Residents are provided the following advice:
If your garbage is picked up at the curb or in commercial dumpsters, do not place computers, monitors or TVs in your trash, recycling bin, at the curb or alongside the dumpster. These items require special handling and cannot be collected via your regular garbage service.
If you haul your own trash, remember that disposal sites cannot accept computers, monitors and TVs for disposal. A recycling depot located at a landfill, transfer station or other site may accept them for recycling purposes. Check with the facility first. If you are hauling trash for your business, consider arranging services with an e-waste recycler.
Use the Oregon E-Cycles program to get rid of your unwanted computers, monitors and TVs for free. Anyone can bring seven or fewer computers, monitors and TVs at a time to participating Oregon E-Cycles collection sites for free recycling. Households, small businesses and small nonprofits may recycle more than seven items at one time. Oregon E-Cycles defines small businesses and small nonprofits as having 10 or fewer employees. Please call the collection site ahead of time to inquire about any verification needed and to ensure the collection site has the capacity to handle your items.
The ban is limited to computers, monitors and televisions and does not include computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, speakers, printers and scanners, or other electronics such as cell phones. DEQ encourages all Oregonians to recycle these items as well. If your local E-Cycles collection site does not accept other devices, there are many other businesses that recycle electronics. For a partial list of other electronics recyclers, check DEQ’s website at www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/consumers/otherrecyclers.htm.
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