DEQ.utah.gov - Electronics Recycling

Electronics Recycling

Your TV, computer and cellphone can harm the environment, but they don't have to. When you recycle your electronics instead of discarding them in a landfill, you are protecing the environment and reducing the amount of waste in our landfills.

Here are some facts:

Nationwide, 315 million computers will be thrown away by 2004. That adds up to 1.2 billion pounds of lead, 2 million pounds of cadmium, 400,000 pounds of mercury, 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent chromium and 7 billion pounds of plastic.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 130 million cell phones will be discarded in the next two years. Many televisions, each with 4 pounds of lead in their screens, are replaced with newer models every year.

For more information regarding electronic recycling, visit the links below. Doing your part to protect the environment makes a big difference.

*Note: All links below open in a new window.

News

A Study of the State-by-State E-Waste Patchwork

The National Electronics Recycling Information Clearinghouse (NERIC) has released a report titled "A Study of the State-by-State E-Waste Patchwork" at the E-Scrap 2006 conference in Austin, Texas. The study is a first-ever effort to identify and quantify the existing and potential economic effects of the ever-expanding patchwork of state-level electronics recycling requirements on industry, government and consumers. It analyzes the effect of legislation already passed and enacted in the four mandatory state programs to date - California, Maine, Maryland, and Washington, and projects costs for the future.

Drawing from estimates provided by principal public and private sector entities in state electronics recycling programs, the study identifies "dead weight" costs that would not be present with the introduction and implementation of a national electronics recycling program. Recurring dead weight costs of the four existing state-legislated programs are estimated at $25 million per year. At the present implementation rate of one new state mandated program per year, recurring dead weight costs are expected to increase substantially during the coming years. The study projects recurring dead weight costs associated with a future 20-state "mega-patchwork" of differing state requirements to be $125 million per year.

The NERIC initiative is a jointly funded project of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). In October NERIC released its study titled "A Study of the State-by-State E-Waste Patchwork." To read the report go to: http://www.ecyclingresource.org/

Apple Recycles Old Computers for Current Customers

Did you know that The Apple Store is offering to recycle old computers if you buy a new one? Purchase any qualifying Apple computer or monitor and receive free recycling of your old computer and monitor - regardless of manufacturer.

This service is only available for Apple customers. Computers will not be accepted at Apple Retail stores. Apple has customers ship their old computers for recycling via Fed Ex. For more information, follow this link:

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/free_recycling_cover_page_popup.html

List of National E-Cycling partners that take electronics for recycling

Overview of State Electronic Waste Recycling Program , given to the Natural Resources, Argriculture, and Environment Interim Committee on October 18, 2006.