Oregon E-waste Law

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Update: On June 29, 2011, Senate Bill 82 was signed into law. Beginning January 1, 2015, computer peripherals (keyboards and mice) and printers will be added to the Oregon E-Cycles Program.

The Governor signed HB 3606, which amends existing e-waste law to fix differing basis for TV manufacturer obligation inside default program and in separate manufacturer programs.

Background

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed Oregon's e-waste bill HB 2626 on June 7, 2007. The e-waste recycling program is a statewide program that went into effect January 1, 2009. The program is financed by manufacturers, and provides responsible recycling of computers, monitors and TVs for households, small businesses, small nonprofits and anyone dropping off 7 items or less to collection points.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality assigns all manufacturers a recycling obligation by May 1 each year. This obligation, or return share and return share by weight, is the percentage and weight, respectively, of computers, monitors and TVs that a manufacturer is responsible for recycling through a recycling program.

Numbers

Oregon's E-cycle Program collected 18.9 million pounds of materials in its first year. That equals out to more than five pounds of electronic waste per Oregonian. In 2010, Oregon collected more than 24.1 million pounds, or 6.31 pounds per capita.

Details

There are two types of recycling programs that manufacturers may participate in:

  • State Contractor Program (SCP) - Manufacturers are automatically participants in the SCP unless they meet certain requirements and choose to operate an independent program.  Participants in the SCP pay a per-pound recycling fee to DEQ, which is based on return share by weight for computer manufacturers and TV market share by weight for TV manufacturers. DEQ will send participants in the SCP an invoice for their recycling fee July 1; fees are due September 1.
  • Independent Program - A manufacturer or group of manufacturers may pursue an independent program by submitting a recycling plan to DEQ for approval by July 1 each year. If an independent program is not approved, those manufacturers will participate in the SCP.

Disposal Ban

Starting on January 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.  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.

To find a recycling location near you, please call:

Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops.  Beginning January 1, 2015, computer peripherals (keyboards and mice) and printers will be added.
Read final version of the law.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality