Dive Brief:
- The Electronic Recycling Jobs Act, started in July of 2013, forbids landfills across the state of Colorado from accepting many types of electronics.
- The law has prompted many residents to dispose of old TVs and obsolete computers at places that do not accept e-waste, such as thrift stores, resale shops and even recycling centers. The cost is astronomical for these businesses and organizations, as the recipients must now dispose of the consumer waste properly or face fines and potential jail time.
- Police have been ramping up e-waste investigations at drop-off facilities, while the centers themselves are vigilant in warding off consumers seeking to dump e-waste for someone else to dispose. Many sites and businesses post signs warning people against dropping off electronics; many have installed cameras to capture the culprits.
Dive Insight:
Littering charges are usually brought against anyone found breaking the e-waste ban in Colorado. Those found guilty could be thrown into jail for up to one year and faces a maximum fine of $1,000.
In January 2014, Goodwill in Denver, CO launched a program that allows local businesses to recycle e-waste at no charge. Electronics are refurbished and resold or taken apart and recycled. Could the entire state recreate this model as its volume of waste grows or will it have to step up its security at collection sites?
