Maryland E-waste Law

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed HB 488, the Statewide Electronics Recycling Program, on April 24, 2007,  which expands the definition of covered electronic devices to include televisions and increases the registration fee for manufacturers to $10,000 under the existing electronics recycling law HB 575. HB 488 replaced the computer pilot program, and created a permanent E-waste recycling law.

Details

HB 575, signed into law on May 10, 2005, requires computer manufacturers to submit a registration and fee. Effective July 1, 2005, the statute requires computer manufacturers to pay a registration fee each year into the Maryland State Recycling Trust Fund which can be used to give grants to municipalities to implement local computer recycling programs. After the first year, the computer makers can reduce their payments to an annual $500 by setting up their own computer take back programs. The law requires manufacturers to clearly label their products and prohibits retailers from selling products made by manufacturers who do not comply with the law.

HB 109, signed by the Governor on April 17, 2004, required the Department of the Environment (Department) to study the establishment of an electronic waste collection system in the state for the collection and recycling of electronic waste, including cathode-ray tubes, by 2006. The Department was to collaborate with local governments, environmental groups, electronics manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, the solid waste industry, and legislators of the Maryland General Assembly. The Electronics Recycling Workgroup Report was submitted to the Department in December 2004.

Disposal Ban
There is currently no disposal ban

Covered Devices: Desktop computers, personal computers, laptops and now TVs
View a summary of Maryland's e-waste law (HB 575, 2005)
Link to updated HB 488 law (2007)
Maryland Department of the Environment