California E-Waste Law
California continues to lead the nation in electronic waste policy as the only state that has successfully curbed both the illegal disposal and export of the largest category toxic electronics, which includes TVs, computer monitors, and laptops through CA's SB 20 (Sher, 2003). It's estimated that half will either be reused or recycled in California today.
SB 20 (Sher, 2003) and SB 50 (Sher, 2004) Electronic Waste Recycling Act
Details
California has an Advanced Recovery Fee system where consumers pay a fee (currently $8, $16, or $25 depending on size of the screen) at the point of purchase to the retailers. Retailers would then send the fee money to the State Board of Equalization which deposits the fees into a state recycling fund called the Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account. The State, specifically CalRecycle department, uses the fees to reimburse recyclers ($0.28/lb) and collectors ($0.20/lb) who submit receipts showing they have collected covered devices from state residents. This law was implemented in January 2005.
Companies cannot sell laptops, monitors, TVs, portable DVD players that exceed RoHS levels for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Hexavalent chromium in California.
Disposal Ban
Disposal ban already in effect since 2002. In addition, the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) has recognized a wide array of consumer electronic products as hazardous, and, effective February 2006, they are prohibited from disposal in household trash, affecting thousands of consumer electronic devices. California currently has the most comprehensive landfill ban in the nation.
The Good News: Numbers to-date
- For 2008, the recycling rate for covered electronics was 58%, almost triple from 2006, when the recovery rate was at 29%.
- According to state waste and recycling data, California generated approximately 140,000 tons of CEDs in 2005, with more than 60 million pounds of this electronic waste taken back for recycling through the program. In 2007, this number rose to more than 135 million pounds recycled and in 2008, the number is more than 214 million pounds.
- Since enactment of SB 20, more than 600 recycling locations have been established statewide.
- In 2010, California collected approximately 186 million pounds of e-waste for recycling, or 5.06 pounds per person
Covered Devices: Computer monitors, laptop computers, portable DVD players with liquid crystal display (LCD) screens (eff. 7-1-07), “bare” cathode ray tubes and devices containing cathode ray tubes, and televisions with: LCD screens, plasma screens (eff. 7-1-05) and cathode ray tubes.
View a copy of the final bill language.
Program Administered By:
