Connecticut Governor Rell Signs Electronic Equipment Recycling Program into Law

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June 7, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has signed into law substitute House Bill 7249, An Act Concerning the Collection and Recycling of Covered Electronic Devices, which establishes a mandatory recycling program for certain major electronic appliances such as computers and televisions.

Beginning in 2009 manufacturers of those devices will have to register with the state Department of Environmental Protection and pay an annual fee, which DEP will use to administer the recycling program. That same year, cities and towns will be required to begin providing for the recycling of the affected devices, including making arrangements for collection and transportation of the devices to a DEP-approved recycler.

"Computers and televisions are almost everywhere in our homes and lives today, but we seldom think about the masses of materials that go into making them," Governor Rell said. "For all their importance to everyday affairs, when the time comes to dispose of them we risk exposing the environment to dangerous substances such as lead, mercury, exotic metals and the breakdown effects of plastics if we simply toss them in a landfill. Even better, the vast majority of these machines can be recycled – turned into new electronics or other goods, keeping the material out of the waste stream altogether."

The new law specifically exempts certain smaller electronic devices from the recycling requirement, including cell phones, PDAs, calculators and pagers, computers or TVs that are parts of a motor vehicle or household appliance, home telephones (unless they have a video display larger than 4 inches diagonally) and devices that are part of equipment used in an industrial, commercial or medical setting.

The new law is Public Act 07-189 and takes effect October 1, except for a provision requiring the DEP to begin drawing up regulations, which takes effect July 1, and a provision allowing the DEP to join an existing regional electronics recycling organization or compact which takes effect upon passage.

Source: Connecticut Governor