Feb 15 - HI - Hawaii Contemplates Charging Recycling Fee on Electronics

Share

The Hawaii legislature is contemplating charging consumers a recycling fee for electronics and using that money to pay for e-waste recycling centers. This would repeal the existing Product Stewardship Law from 2008.

The proposed measures, SB 2822 and companion bill HB 2560, would require retailers to pay the electronic recycling fee to the state and collect the money from consumers as the items are sold. The system  has a tiered recycling fee, where consumers pay $1 for electronic devices weighing up to a pound and up to $20 for devices weighing more than 75 pounds.

If passed, consumers will pay for the recycling fee starting July 1, 2014. The bill would also create a landfill disposal ban for electronics would go into effect July 1, 2015.

The existing Electronic Waste Recycling Act requires manufacturers of covered electronic devices sold in Hawaii to come up with and implement their recycling plan. In 2010, 3,235,432 pounds of ewaste was recycled, or 2.38 pounds per capita. In comparison, successful programs such as CA or Oregon has above a 5 pounds per capita recycling rate.

Learn more about our efforts to support e-waste laws. Please support our work on e-waste and make a tax-deductible donation today.