Dive Brief:

• The Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act will prohibit residents in New York state from disposing of e-waste in the trash.
• The intended benefit of the law is to simplify the process of recycling consumer electronics. Residents across the state can use designated drop-off sites to dispose of unwanted devices and equipment, free of charge. 
• The law takes effect on January 1, 2015. Each violation will yield a $100 fine. 

Dive Insight:

According to the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA), a Syracuse, NY-based organization that helps the community with waste and recycling, the program has already been successful. In that particular county, the volume of e-waste collected has grown from 44 million pounds in 2011 to 99 million pounds in 2013.

However, the organization warns that the substantial amount of electronics has already exceeded the threshold set for manufacturers by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Drop-off sites include some retailers, special municipal collections, and community recycling events. Officials caution that after quotas are reached, the “free” aspect of e-waste collection centers may not be extended to all locations that accept used electronics.

To ease the burden, some thrift stores have started accepting TVs and computers, which they will then sell to recyclers.