E-waste laws have come into effect in both North and South Carolina, requiring manufacturers to offer recycling for electronics, and barring computers and televisions from curbside collections.
The regulations in both states came into effect July 1. In North Carolina, the new law will hold electronics manufacturers responsible for creating and funding recycling programs, the Salisbury (N.C.) Post reported. There, all computer makers must offer free mail-back to consumers.
The regulations are designed to keep hazardous materials such as cadmium and mercury out of soil and water, and to divert useful materials to the recycling industry.
In South Carolina, 43 of the state’s 46 counties have e-cycling programs, some more comprehensive than others, the (Charleston) Post and Courier reports.
Other states with e-waste recycling laws include Wisconsin and California.
Last year it was reported that California’s e-waste program, which pays more than $320 million to collect and recycle computer monitors and televisions, has resulted in fraud totaling tens of millions of dollars, including schemes to smuggle illegal material in from out of state.
A bill that would restrict the export of certain e-waste to developing nations was reintroduced in the House of Representatives last month by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) Similar measures were introduced in 2009 and 2010 but neither advanced past the committee stage.
Picture credit: Mosman Council