Summary of E-Waste Laws in the U.S.
Click here for states with pending 2010 legislation on E-waste.
The following is a list and brief overview of the major e-waste recycling legislation that has been passed throughout the United States.
California (SB 20 & SB 50)
Consumers pay a fee at purchase of covered products, ranging from $6-10, depending on the size of the video display. The fee goes into a state recycling fund, which is then used to pay qualified e-waste collectors and recyclers to cover their costs of managing e-waste.
Covered Devices: TVs and Monitors, Portable DVD Players
Effective Date: January 1, 2005
View a copy of the final bill language.
Connecticut (HB 7249)
Signed in July 2007, this bill creates a mandatory recycling program for discarded covered electronic devices (CEDs). CED manufacturers must participate in a program to implement and finance the collection, transportation, and recycling of these products. Municipalities arrange for collection and transportation to recyclers and recyclers bill the manufacturers.
Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
View a copy of the final bill language.
Hawaii (SB 2843)
By January 1, 2009, each manufacturer of new covered electronic devices offered for sale must register with the Department of Health and pay a registration fee of $5,000. By June 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, each manufacturer must submit a plan to the Department to establish, conduct, and manage a program for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its covered electronic devices sold in Hawaii.
Covered Devices: TVs, Computer Monitors, or anything that has a display greater than 4" or contains a circuit board
Effective Date: July 1, 2008
View a copy of the final bill language.
Illinois (SB 2313)
Requires manufacturers to establish facilities to accept e-waste from consumers. The law is on a rolling basis and the recycling requirements will kick in over the next few years. By 2012, disposal of certain e-waste in municipal waste and sanitary landfills, as well as at incinerators, will be prohibited. The E-Waste Act only applies to electronic equipment taken out of use from residences, but it affects many of the businesses involved in the stream of electronic commerce. There is a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each day of violation.
Covered Devices: Computers, televisions, cell phones, PDAs,
printers, fax machines, game consoles, VCRs, DVD players, iPods, and
other devices (excluding calculators and typewriters).
Effective Date: January 2010
View a copy of the final bill language.
Indiana (HB 1589)
Requires manufacturers of video display devices to collect and recycle 60% by weight of the volume of products they sold in the previous year in Indiana. After the first two years, manufacturers who fail to meet those goals will pay an additional recycling fee for every pound they fall short of their goal. This program allows consumers, public schools, and small businesses to recycle a larger group of products for free.
Covered Devices: TVs, computers, laptops, keyboards, printers, fax machines, DVD players, and video cassette recorders.
Effective Date: April 2010
View a copy of the final bill language.
Maine (LD 1892)
LD 1892, enacted in 2004, requires municipalities to send waste computer and television monitors to consolidation centers that are fully funded by manufacturers. The manufacturers also pay to ship and recycle the electronic waste according to Maine's environmentally sound recycling guidelines. Manufacturers cover costs apportioned according to the number of their units recovered in Maine, including a share of "orphan units" (units made by manufacturers now out of business).
Covered Devices: TVs, Computer Monitors, or anything that has a display greater than 4" or contains a circuit board
Effective Date: January 18, 2006
View a summary of Maine's e-waste law (24kb pdf)
Maryland (HB 575)
HB 575 established a county-by-county collection system, with the manufacturer being responsible for funding the program or creating their own plans. This law was updated with a new measure (HB 488) signed in 2007. It expands the scope of products to include TVs and other display devices.
Covered Devices: Desktop computers, personal computers, laptops and now TVs
Effective Date: January 1, 2006, expires in 2010
View a summary of Maryland's e-waste law
Link to updated HB 488 law.
Michigan (HB 6714-6715; SB 896-897)
Governor Granholm signed the bills into law on Dec 26, 2008. The bills impose a new annual registration tax of $2,000 to $3,000 on manufacturers of computers, including related equipment and video display devices sold in Michigan. The tax could increase after 2015. In addition, the legislation created a new regulatory regime mandating that the manufacturers establish programs in which they take back used units and recycle the parts.
Covered Devices: TVs, computer monitors, laptops. Printers will be added next year.
Effective Date: Immediately
Read final version of the law.
Minnesota (HF 854)
Under HF 854, manufacturers of covered devices must register with the state, pay a registration fee and set up an e-waste recycling program. These manufacturers must also meet specified recycling goals, including 60 percent of the weight of covered electronic devices sold in the state by July 2008, and 80 percent each year thereafter. The producer responsibility bill was signed by Gov. Pawlenty on May 8, 2007.
Covered Devices: TVs, computer monitors, laptops, computers, printers, scanners, and other computer peripherals.
Effective Date: August 2007
Read final version of the law.
Missouri (SB 720)
The act requires manufacturers of computers to implement "recovery plans" for the collection of and the recycling or reuse of their obsolete equipment. The recovery plan must be implemented and a copy of the plan submitted to the Department of Natural Resources before the manufacturer can sell its computers in Missouri. Such manufacturers must also label their equipment to identify themselves as the manufacturer
Covered Devices: Computers only
Effective Date: Collection starts after July 1, 2010
Read final version of the law.
New Jersey (A3572)
This producer responsibility legislation signed in 2008 requires manufacturers of covered devices under the state's program to pay an annual registration fee and set up recycling programs. For covered electronic devices, recycling goals based on market share must be met annually and manufacturers that collect and recycle CEDs in excess of their goals may sell credits to other registered manufacturers to apply these credits to the following year's goals.
Covered Devices: desktops, PCs, monitors, portable computers, TVs
Effective Date: Implementation date starts Jan 2011
Link to the bill language for A3572.
New York State (A11308)
Signed into law May 28, 2010, this measure establishes a comprehensive manufacturer-financed e-waste recycling program, free to consumers, schools, municipalities, small businesses, and small non-profits.
Covered Devices: televisions, computer monitors, computers, computer peripherals, printers, fax machines, small electronic equipment and small scale servers
Effective Date: April 1st, 2011
Read the final version of the law.
New York City (Intro. No. 728)
New York City is the first municipality to pass an e-waste recycling bill, which was signed by the Mayor on April 1, 2008. The law requires manufacturers of certain electronic equipment to create a collection program for any person in the City who wants to properly discard of their electronics. The bill also bans e-waste from disposal into the City's solid waste stream.
Covered Devices: CPUs, computer monitors, computer accessories including keyboards and mice, laptop computers, TVs, printers, portable music player
Effective Date: Immediately
North Carolina (S 1492)
Signed into law in August 2007, this measure requires covered device's manufacturers to pay for the transportation and recycling costs for covered devices from collection sites.
Covered Devices: Desktops, laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice
Effective Date: January 1, 2010
Read the final version of the law.
Oklahoma (SB 1631)
The bill requires computer manufacturers doing business in Oklahoma to provide the Department of Environmental Quality proof of a computer recovery or recycling program, such as a mail-back system, collection events, or contracts with state electronic recycling shops.
It also disqualifies any manufacturer from participating in bids for state contracts if they are not in compliance.
Covered Devices: Desktop, notebook computer, computer monitor. Does not include televisions.
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
Read final version of the law.
Oregon (HB 2626)
Signed into law in June 2007, manufacturers of covered electronic devices (CEDs) must register to participate in recycling programs and provide collection sites for e-waste. Manufacturers pay a fee dependent on their market share of CEDs sold in the state. The law also prohibits a collection fee for CEDs.
Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
Read final version of the law.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has signed HB 708 into law on Nov 24, 2010, making PA the 24th state to adopt an electronics recycling program. The Covered Device Recycling Act requires e-waste manufacturers to collect, transport and recycle their electronic equipment. Manufacturers will be required to submit plans to the Department of Environmental Protection for review and approval. It includes a ban on e-waste disposal in landfills to be implemented two years after the legislation takes effect
Covered devices: televisions and computer devices including include hard drives, monitors, keyboards, mice and printers.
Effective Date: Jan 23, 2011
Rhode Island (SB 2631 & HB 7880)
This legislation establishes a manufacturer-financed system for the collection, recycling, and reuse program for covered products in Rhode Island. Manufacturers will be able to either create their own collection system or pay into the state Resource Recovery Corporation’s e-waste recycling program, which will be expanded.
Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
Read the final version of the law SB 2631(Sosnowski)
Read the final version of the law HB 7880 (Handy)
South Carolina (H4093)
Signed into law May 20, 2010, this measure establishes a statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program intended to collect and recycle electronic devices.
Covered Devices: desktop and notebook computers, computer monitors, printers and televisions.
Effective Date: July 1, 2011
Read the final version of the law.
Texas (HB 2714)
This measure was signed into law June 2007. Manufacturers of electronic devices are required to pay for collection, transportation, and recycling of covered devices and can set up their own recycling take back program.
Covered Devices: Desktops, laptops, monitors
Effective Date: September 1, 2008
View the final version of the law.
Utah (SB 184 )
Signed into law March 22, Utah is the 25th state with an e-waste recycling programs. Manufacturers of covered electronic devices are required to meet reporting requirements (including recycling program) set by Utah's Department of Environmental Quality and provide public education on collection, reuse and recycling options for consumers.
Covered Devices: computers and computer peripheral (including printers), television and television peripheral
Effective Date: July 1, 2011
View the final version of the law.
Vermont (SB 77)
Signed into law on 4/19/10, this law bans the disposal in landfills of computers and other electronic devices that contain toxins, and would also establish a convenient recycling program for consumers to recycle covered electronic devices for free.
Covered Devices: Computers including laptops, computer monitors, device containing a cathode ray tube, printers and televisions.
Effective Date: July 1, 2011
Read the final version of the law.
Virginia (HB 344)
Signed on March 11, 2008, this producer responsibility bill requires manufacturers to set up a collection system for consumers to return computer equipment for recycling and reuse free of charge.
Covered Devices: Desktops, Notebook computers
Effective Date: July 1, 2009
Read the final version of the law.
Washington (SB 6428)
SB 6428, passed in 2006, would require extended manufacturer responsibility for producing and financing an e-waste recycling program, including the collection, transportation, and recycling of covered electronic products. The measure also calls for further encouragement of the design of electronic products that are less toxic and recyclable. All costs associated with the developed plan will not be passed onto Washington consumers.
Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, laptops and desktop computers
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
View a summary of SB 6428
Read the Chaptered Legislation
West Virginia (SB 746)
Passed on March 8, 2008, this bill requires manufacturers to develop recycling programs. Manufacturers pay registration fees into a state fund, which is used to reimburse counties and municipalities for recycling programs and administrative costs.
Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, laptops and desktop computers.
Effective Date: July 2008
Read the Chaptered Legislation
Wisconsin (SB 107)
This bill establishes a collection and recycling system in Wisconsin for certain consumer electronic devices discarded by households, and bans landfilling or incineration of these devices in Wisconsin. A manufacturer may not sell the covered electronic devices to a Wisconsin household through direct sale, at retail, or to a retailer for resale, unless the manufacturer:
• Registers with the Department of Natural Resources;
• Arranges for the collection and recycling of eligible electronic devices;
• Submits required reports;
• Pays an annual registration fee of $5,000, and if applicable, shortfall fees.
The target recycling goal is 80% of the weight of covered electronic devices sold three years prior to the program year. Sales include sales to households and K-12 public schools.
Covered Devices: Desktop Style printers, computers, TVs, and computer monitors at least 7" in diameter. Other electronic devices may be eligible for a recycling credit.
Effective Date: February 1, 2010
View a copy of the final bill language.
The following are summaries of other states that have passed either disposal bans or studies related to electronic waste disposal.
Arkansas (HB 2115)
HB 2115 established a deadline for the disposal of computer and electronic waste in landfills. State agencies are required to donate or recycle all covered electronic devices.
Covered Devices: Only state agency generated e-waste is covered. Equipment includes computers, computer monitors, TVs, audio and stereo equipment, monitors, computers, VCRs, keyboards, printers, telephones, fax machines
Effective Date: 2008
Massachusetts
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from television and computer monitors were prohibited from all Massachusetts solid waste disposal facilities in 2000.
Effective Date: April 1, 2000
Montana (HB 555)
Signed into law April 2007, this bill establishes a public education program for household hazardous waste recycling. The program will provide information for alternative disposal of HHW to landfills and options for recycling.
Scope of products: Video, audio, telecommunications equipment, computers, and household appliances.
Click here for the full bill language.
New Hampshire (HB 1455)
Law will prohibit disposing of video display devices (including CRTs) in solid waste landfills or incinerators. The State Department of Environmental Services will be required to monitor the disposal of electronic waste.
Effective Date: July 1, 2007
Read the final version of the law.
New Mexico (SJM 11)
Passed in 2/12/08, this bill relates to state equipment procurement and recycling. Instructs State DEP to work with independent panel to make recommendations for state electronics purchasing and recycling by Dec 1, 2009. A taskforce to develop guidelines for environmentally-friendly electronics procurement and recycling by state agencies.
Effective Date: Immediately
Read the final version of the law.
Rhode Island (S 2509)
The Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act passed in 2006, bans electronics (including CRTs) from landfills. The law will require the Department of Environmental Management, in consultation with stakeholders, to develop the plan for effectively collecting, recycling or reusing all covered electronic products.
Effective Date: July 1, 2008
View the final version of the law.
