Dive summary:
- Starting Jan. 24, trash collectors in Pennsylvania wont pick up electronic waste because of a new ban on improper e-waste disposal.
- The law effects larger electronics such as televisions, computer screens and monitors and tablets with a visible screen larger than four inches, the only exception is for cell phones and PDAs.
- Residents who disobey the law won't receive a fine, the electronic will just be left at the curb, but if they are caught dumping e-waste at the landfill they face a fine of up to $1,000 for the first offense.
From the article:
According to the DEP, a typical cathode ray tube computer monitor, for example, contains four to seven pounds of lead; large CRT televisions can contain even more lead.
“E-waste is only about two percent of the total waste stream, but it counts for about 70 percent of toxic materials in landfills,” said George Jugovic, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania environmental advocacy organization PennFuture. “For a long time people have been throwing away a substantial amount of items that can potentially threaten our drinking water supply, so this law is nothing but a good thing.” ...
