New Electronics Law Takes Effect July 1, 2013
In our 2012 state legislative session, a new law was passed based on SB12-133 that will ban landfill disposal of certain electronic devices after July 1, 2013. The law also requires responsible recycling by state agencies. The law was passed to encourage recycling of electronics to help protect the Colorado environment. What does this mean to you?
1) After July 1, 2013, Colorado residents will no longer be able to place the following electronics in their trash for disposal:
Computers
Computer monitors
DVD players
Electronic books
FAX machines
Laptops
Notebooks
Netbooks
Ultrabooks
Peripherals
Printers
Slates and tablets
Televisions
VCRs
Video display devices
Any electronic device with a cathode ray tube or a flat panel screen larger than 4 inches
Western will no longer be able to collect these items and materials with their trash collection vehicles after that date.
Electronic devices that are not included in the landfill ban include:
Devices that are part of a motor vehicle
Clothes dryer or washer
Microwave oven or conventional oven or range
Dishwasher
Dehumidifier or air purifier
Telephone
Exercise equipment
Other business, commercial and industrial devices and touch screen displays used for diagnostics, monitoring and control
Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are not included in the ban; however, Western cannot collect these items with the regular trash due to separate regulations regarding Freon containing appliances. Separate collection services are available for these appliances.
2) All Colorado state agencies are required to recycle their electronic devices using electronics recyclers that are certified to national environmental standards.
3) All Colorado counties are subject to this law. If electronics recycling is not currently readily available within a county jurisdiction, the county must perform a good faith effort to get or provide electronics recycling to their communities. If a county has at least two collection events per year or a permanent collection facility, they will meet the requirements of the new law. Counties are not required to pay for the recycling services and may charge for the collections. If local programs are not possible, a county may exempt the county’s residents from the landfill ban.
Boulder County currently has two permanent drop-off collection facilities:
1) Western Disposal’s Trash and Recycle Center located at 5880 Butte Mill Road and
2) Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) sponsored by the city of Boulder and located at 5030 Old Pearl St.
Fees do apply at both facilities.
Communities throughout Boulder County and Broomfield County also provide special electronics collection days. The City of Lafayette plans to have another electronics recycling event in June 2013 at the Service Center with the help of Metech Recycling.
In the interim, please be environmentally responsible and recycle your electronics at Western or CHaRM.