lcd monitors cost money to recycle manufacturer

Laptop computers and liquid crystal display monitors face a $6 to $10 "pre-recycling"" fee come July 1 under a new California law aimed at preventing hazardous electronics waste from entering landfills.

The fee is already levied on televisions, but state toxics regulators are testing cell phones, handheld video games, plasma screens and other electronics to see whether they could leak hazardous materials once buried in a dump.

Regulators ground up laptops and LCD screens, poured acid over the remains and measured chemicals that leached out. Copper and lead from the equipment exceeded hazardous levels.

The fees will be collected by retailers and sent to the state for electronics-recycling programs. Ranging from $6 to $10, the fee depends on the size of the screen. Any monitor larger than 4 inches or larger diagonally is subject to the fee.

"This determination and inclusion of these products into the recycling program will ensure safe, efficient collection and reuse of these electronic devices,"" said Ed Lowry, head of the state"s Department of Toxic Substances Control.

A handful of computer salesmen contacted Tuesday and Wednesday said the fees to recycle monitors are a good idea and wouldn"t deter buyers. But a few thought manufacturers should bear the burden, not consumers.

"You just can"t put any more on the consumer. The manufacturers, I"m sure, are making more than enough money,"" said Rebecca Avelar, a co-owner of the Computer Center of Hayward.

By April 1, manufacturers must submit to retailers a list of electronics that require a recycling fee. State toxics officials are still testing and expect more equipment will require the hazardous recycling fee.

Passed in September, the Electronics Waste Recycling Act requires that manufacturers reduce hazardous ingredients in electronics products sold in California and requires that the state collect fees on certain electronics to fund e-waste recycling programs. - Tri-Valley Herald(Pleasanton, Calif.)

For decades, American families spent evenings gathered around the flickering lights of cathode ray tube (CRT) television sets and connected their desktop computer towers to boxy, tube-powered monitors. But as technology has changed, these heavy, bulky devices fell swiftly out of favor in the last fifteen years, largely replaced by relatively light weight, sleek-looking flat screens. However, according to a 2014 survey by the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), almost half (46%) of U.S. households still have at least one CRT television or computer monitor – and who knows how many of those are actively in use, or even usable.

As Americans continue to dispose of the roughly 5 billion pounds of CRT TVs and monitors currently in their homes, it’s an environmental and public health must to do it right. The best, and only truly safe way to dispose of your old tube televisions and monitors is through proper recycling. But, unlike the scrap metal and electronics most of us are more familiar with recycling, you’ll probably have to pay someone to take your CRT devices.

“One of the most common questions we get from customers is ‘Why am I being charged for this?’” says Marisa Head, spokesperson for Cohen Recycling. It can be confusing for customers, she says, because people expect to get paid for most scrap items, and they don’t assume TVs would be any different.

But it’s important for people to know: The costs aren’t new, and they’re definitely not arbitrary. In fact, if a recycling company is willing to take your TV at no charge, that could be a red flag. Here’s why you have to pay to recycle your CRT TV or computer monitor, and why it’s worth the money.

The monetary value in electronics recycling comes from breaking down consumer goods into component parts that can then be sold back into the manufacturing supply chain as raw material. Products like the old CRT TVs and computer monitors were typically shelled in wood or plastic, materials with little recovery value.

Still, many people understandably assume that because recycling companies can often pay to take computer towers and other electronic devices, they should pay — instead of charge — for tube style televisions and monitors. After all, these are still electronics, right? Don’t they have precious metals in their circuit boards and internal wiring?

The answer is yes, but not in quantities that make it worthwhile. “There’s a small circuit board with just trace amounts of gold, but you still have to be able to recover that gold, so you’re talking pennies, not dollars,” says Bob McCarthy, vice president of business development for Cohen Recycling’s electronics-focused subsidiary, Cobalt. “Then there’s copper wire, but again, we’re talking pennies, not dollars.”

But what really sends recycling the products into the net-negative is the cost associated with recycling their components responsibly. “Those old CRTs have lead in them,” says McCarthy. “It’s a hazardous material that needs to be handled properly, or else we end up with contaminants in the air and in the water.” These contaminants pose not just a threat to the environment, but to the community– and risks to the workers who must handle them.

The first step in recycling — taking the device apart — must be done by hand. While most electronics are placed in a shredder, which separates metals, plastics and other materials, human labor is required to dissemble CRT TVs and monitors.

Once the device is taken apart, the lead must be separated from the glass in the tube, a task that has proved difficult to get right. In recent years, four large companies that were handling the materials improperly have gone out of business, affecting the health of local communities by leaving large stockpiles of unprocessed material behind. Cohen partners with facilities that they’ve heavily vetted to do this work, but it’s nevertheless expensive – from labor, to shipping, to paying the company who will refine the material into something re-useable.

While Cohen is able to subsidize the costs of recycling some low-value products, such as TV remotes and old stereo systems, it just doesn’t balance with the CRT devices. “The products and commodities you get out of this once you dismantle aren’t worth what it costs to properly dispose of the finished product,” says Cobalt CEO Joey Fojtik.

If you or someone you know recycled a CRT television or computer monitor several years ago, there might not have been a charge. Companies such as Best Buy would accept these devices from consumers at no charge and have them recycled. But recycling TVs was never truly “free.” Most often, the costs were subsidized by the original equipment manufacturers. In Ohio, where most of the voluntary subsidy programs are going away and there isn’t legislation to mandate it, the cost is shifting back to the consumer.

But, your local recycling facilities — as well as your environmental and public health agencies — still want you to recycle those difficult devices. To encourage people to bring in their difficult to recycle electronics, Cohen partners with local organizations to host collection events every year. The largest of these is the annual PNC/Reds E-Waste Recycling Drive, which takes place each spring.

Just bring your electronics — including those CRT TVs and monitors — and a suggested donation of $10 or more to one of three drop-off points. (Typically, the charge for these devices is around $0.40-0.50 per pound, so the $10 donation can still amount to a significant discount.) In return, Cohen will take your device off your hands, make sure it’s properly and safely recycled, and send you away with two free tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game.

“We want people to bring CRT TVs and monitors in to recycle,” says Fojtik. “There are unfortunately a lot of people who are dumping them because it’s the cheapest solution. We feel confident that we’re doing it the right way, and it gives us peace of mind knowing things will be processed in a positive manner.”

Did you know? Electronic waste, including TVs, is accepted for recycling at all Cohen Recycling Centers year-round. Visit www.cohenusa.com to find the location most convenient to you.

Best Buy’s announcement this week that it will start charging for some of its electronics recycling may be a harbinger of the return of fee-based electronics recycling, due to lowered demand for components, the trend toward lighter products and a glut of the old heavy screens now cluttering basements across the country.

In a statement Monday, the retail giant said it has to start charging consumers $25 for each TV and computer monitor brought to their stores for recycling. The company has already operated the largest e-waste recovery program in the country, but Laura Bishop, vice president of public affairs and sustainability, said in a statement that the firm hasn’t been able to reach its goal of at least breaking even.

“The new fees will help cover the increasing cost of managing TV and monitor disposal through our network of stores, distribution centers and recycling partners,” Bishop said. “E-waste volume is rising, commodity prices are falling and global outlets for recycled glass, a key component of TVs and monitors, have dramatically declined. More and more cities and counties have cut their recycling programs for budget reasons, limiting consumer options even further. While providing recycling solutions for our customers is a priority, Best Buy should not be the sole e-cycling provider in any given area, nor should we assume the entire cost.”

Because two states—Illinois and Pennsylvania—have laws prohibiting fees for recycling, Bishop said her firm will no longer be able to collect TVs and monitors in those states. Best Buy will continue to recycle all other items at its stores for free. Bishop did not return a request for further comment.

The two-state ban could put pressure on legislators in Illinois and Pennsylvania, as public entities have had to close their electronic waste collection programs in the past year, leaving Best Buy among the only remaining option for e-waste removal. The communities say they can’t afford to continue their programs, and their neighbors then close because they’re overwhelmed by too much overflow. A number of municipalities in Kane County, Illinois have closed their collection sites in a falling-domino fashion as large electronics piled up beyond return system capacity. Similar closures are happening throughout Pennsylvania as well, such as in York County, which suspended its program in December.

The fee model may have to return nationwide for electronics recycling to stay viable, says Jason Linnell, co-founder and executive director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling. He attributes the problem to a large drop in demand for metals and glass—both components that make up the old cathode ray tube monitors and televisions—as well as the related, outdated model of basing manufacturer-subsidized returns on total weight. Returns of CRTs, which can run to up to 200 pounds each, allow manufacturers to meet total annual recycling weight requirements too quickly—leaving no incentive to continue taking in product when they meet their quota. With many of the private electronic waste recycling groups struggling to break even, the publicly funded pick-up points are getting overwhelmed while also incurring larger costs because they’ve got nowhere to take the product.

“There were a number of new companies that formed when commodities such as gold got hot, but since they’ve dropped back down, those firms have failed,” Linnell says. “But also, CRT returns have increased as the new, lighter screens and computer monitors get cheaper. This problem isn’t going away anytime soon, as we estimate there’s about six billion pounds of CRTs still left in people’s homes.”

Since many states outlaw electronic waste collection in landfills because of hazardous materials, including lead, in the CRTs, it’s feared that for-fee recycling could result in illegal roadside dumping. Hoarding also becomes a perpetuating problem, Linnell says, as the longer a product is obsolete, the less demand there is to recycle it.

“We have to figure out a national way to manage this problem appropriately,” he says. “If people were getting it free before, you have to be careful not to start off with a high fee or they will just decide it’s easier to dump it illegally. We might now see more fees charged, but they might go for maybe $5 to $10, something that’s affordable for most people. At the same time, we might need to revisit the current weight reimbursement systems, as well as encouraging other retailers to start recycling programs at Best Buy’s level.”

If you’re looking to recycle a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, which have been mostly phased out of the sales market at this point, it contains four to eight pounds of lead. If you have a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen, it’s likely being backlit by small fluorescent bulbs containing mercury. Both are toxic metals that you want to keep inside the monitor.

This means it’s extra important to keep these monitors out of landfills but also treat them with care when recycling. Here are a few steps to take when preparing your monitor for recycling:

Unplug the DVI, HDMI or VGA cable from your monitor (as well as the CPU) to lighten the load and prevent tripping (for VGA, you’ll need to unscrew the ends). If the power cord can be removed, unplug that as well.

Place a towel or blanket down in the car and put the monitor face down on top. This will ensure that nothing breaks if you hit any potholes on the drive.

It’s highly unlikely that your curbside recycling program accepts computer monitors, even if it collects “scrap metal.” These screens are bulky and made up of multiple materials, so you’ll definitely want to check before putting them in the recycling bin. If your area offers bulky waste recycling, computer monitors may be accepted, but it’s a good idea to verify that they’ll be responsibly recycled.

The two most common electronics recycling certifications for North American recyclers are the Basel Action Network’s (BAN)e-Stewardsand Sustainable Electronics Recycling International’s (SERI)R2 Standard.

BAN has been certifying recyclers since 2006 to ensure that no electronics are exported overseas. R2 (originally R2 Solutions) has been around since 2008, and focuses more on certifying the recycling process and data destruction.

There are computer monitor recyclers that aren’t e-Stewards or R2 certified, but if you’re wanting to recycle with one of these certified companies, find a directory of them ate-stewards.organdsustainableelectronics.org.

Yes.Staples has been recycling computer monitorssince 2007, andBest Buy followed suitin 2008. Both stores accept both CRT and LCD screens, as well as other computer parts. Best Buy charges a fee to recycle monitors unless you happen to live in California.

As of 2017,25 (or half) of U.S. states require youto recycle some forms of electronics. Of those, 17 havebanned them from landfills. The good news is that every time a new law is passed, recycling becomes that much easier for residents in that state. You’ll likely find your city or county offers computer recycling events at least once a year (usually around Earth Day on April 22).

No, especially if you are trying to recycle a CRT monitor. The costs of breaking down these screens while responsibly removing the lead and/or mercury limits their acceptance by electronics recyclers, and many will specifically exclude monitors from their materials list.

If you can’t separate your screen from the computer processor, you should treat the entire system as a monitor for recycling. You’ll want to unplug all the components (keyboard, mouse, etc.) and find a recycler that accepts CRT monitors. This company would also accept the attached CPU.

When you have one monitor to recycle, a retailer may be most ideal. But if you have numerous screens, you should ask your office if it canplan a recycling drive. You can call an e-waste recycler to send a truck, promote the event to your neighboring businesses, and recycle all sorts of electronics at once. In many cases, the recycler will pick up your electronics at no charge if enough people participate.

Most computer monitor manufacturers are now offering take-back recycling, either by partnering with retailers like Best Buy, Goodwill or Staples, or through a mail-in program (usually only for LCD screens). You’ll want to search your manufacturer’s website for details on its specific program. None of the retailers mentioned above exclude certain brands of monitors, though.

Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.

For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.

Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins. To learn more about proper disposal of batteries.

Manufacturers and retailers offer several options to donate or recycle electronics. You can search for options on the following organizations" websites:

If you have a broken TV or monitor taking up space in your garage, you’re not alone. Many of us, for one reason or another, find ourselves burdened with these devices when they meet their end. You can’t sell them, and you can’t put them in the trash—you’ve read about the e-waste problem and don’t want to contribute to it. So, what do you do?

Hopefully, you decide to take it to an electronics recycling facility, where they can extract the raw materials and repurpose them. However, when you come to a place like EPC, you might be shocked to find that dropping off your TV or monitor comes with a price tag. Why? Most drop-off items free, so why this cost money? Doesn’t the recycling company make money from recycling? Shouldn’t theypay you?

Unfortunately, recycling electronic equipment isn’t that simple. While someone might be able to make a quick buck collecting old soda cans, processing e-scrap requires far more work, with little profit for the company.

When your CRT or LCD screen is processed, it must be manually de-manufactured to remove universal waste—toxic substances such as lead and mercury which must be processed separately. One 17” CRT monitor can contain around six pounds of lead. While these substances aren’t a danger to you or your family when the device is in use, improper disposal can lead to harmful chemicals leeching into the environment. Manual labor, running and maintaining recycling machinery, and outsourcing the de-manufacturing of certain devices such as LCDs and printers are costs that add up.

You may still be wondering why it’s worth it to pay for proper disposal. After all, aren’t there other recycling companies that still take these items for free?

It’s true, some electronics recycling facilities claim to offer “no-cost” services and will take your devices free of charge. However, these companies don’t always handle end-of-life assets properly. Recently, dozens of defendants were named in a lawsuit against recycling companies that contributed to a massive CRT glass stockpile in Columbus, OH. Cleanup costs have been estimated at $18.2 million dollars, and forty-one electronics recyclers may be held financially responsible.

Our recycling prices ensure that each item is processed correctly without putting ourselves, our customers, or the environment at risk. Don’t worry, most of the items we accept are still free to drop off. Here is a complete list of what we accept free of charge:

We hope this clears up questions you may have about our recycling practices, and that you continue to make the effort to recycle responsibly. If you have any questions, or you need to recycle in bulk, please call (636)443-1999 for more information.

Most electronics from residences can legally be discarded with household trash, but the department recommends exploring other options, like recycling or donating. Under the Electronics Scrap Management Rule, any covered computer equipment bought in Missouri after July 1, 2010, will come with a recovery plan from the manufacturer that specifies how they will collect and recycle that equipment when you no longer want it, at no cost to you. Covered computer equipment bought before July 1, 2010, and manufactured under a brand by a company still selling computers in Missouri will also be eligible for free and convenient recycling.

Many questions have been raised about how to recycle unwanted computer equipment under the Electronics Scrap Management rule. We have tried to cover each question below. If you do not see your question, or would like clarification about an answer listed, please contact the Solid Waste Management Program.

The Electronics Scrap Management Rule only applies to covered equipment used by households or home businesses. Covered equipment includes notebook or laptop computers, desktop computers, computer monitors or other display devices that do not contain a tuner. A tuner is an electronic device or circuit used to select signals at a specific frequency for amplification and conversion to pictures or sound. These are typically found in televisions.

If your computer was purchased as a package, meaning a computer, keyboard and mouse were sold together, then the keyboard and mouse are also covered equipment. If a keyboard or mouse was purchased separately, without a computer, then the keyboard and mouse are not covered equipment.

The Electronics Scrap Management Rule does not apply to covered equipment under a lease agreement or equipment from businesses, including charities, nonprofits, schools, churches and public and governmental agencies. This rule does not apply to televisions, electronics from motor vehicles, typewriters, typesetters, calculators, personal digital assistants, telephones or printers. Display devices not associated with computers, such as electronic books or picture frames, are also not covered.

Electronics covered under the Electronics Scrap Management rule will be recycled at no cost to you. The computer equipment manufacturer cannot require you to purchase anything in exchange for recycling your covered equipment or require you to wait for a rebate of recycling fees.

Under the Electronics Scrap Management rule, a computer equipment manufacturer with a department-approved recovery plan is required to provide a publicly available website that includes collection, recycling and reuse information for all their brand(s), both in use and no longer in use. The computer equipment manufacturers listed on the department"s Registered Computer Equipment Manufacturers List have a department approved recovery plan. You simply locate your computer equipment"s manufacturer or brand name on the department"s list and follow the link to the manufacturer"s approved recovery plan and website.

If a computer equipment manufacturer chooses not to sell computers in Missouri, they do not have to collect or recycle your covered equipment. You can contact your computer equipment"s manufacturer directly to find out if they have a take-back or recycling program.

While most electronics from residences can legally be discarded with household trash, the department recommends exploring other options, like recycling or donating. There is recycling and donating information available on the department"s Electronicsweb page. You could also take your unwanted electronics to one of the recyclers listed on the department"s list of Registered Electronics Recycling Businesses.

California eRecycling ProgramCalifornia has implemented the nation’s first eRecycling program to offset the costs of collecting and recycling certain electronic products at the end of their useful lives. Retailers are obligated to meet the following requirements:

The State of California encourages retailers to provide consumers guidance on how and where to recycle their unwanted electronic products by using information available through the states website.

Covered Electronic Devices (CEDs)A “covered electronic device” (CED) is an electronic device that is covered by the Electronic Waste Recycling Act. The purchaser of a CED pays a fee at the time of purchase, which is used to pay collectors and recyclers of CEDs that are no longer wanted. The law defines a CED as a “a video display device containing a screen greater than 4 inches, measured diagonally, that is identified in the regulations adopted by” DTSC. Any video display device with a screen greater than four inches in size that fits into one of the following categories is a CED:

Alianza specializes in the environmentally safe and socially responsible dismantling of electronic waste as defined by the State of California eRecycling Program. All material sent to Alianza is nearly 100% recycled into 3 main commodities: metals, plastic and glass. Maximum commodity return, NO electronics are placed in landfills and nothing is illegally exported to other nations.

Alianzatracks all e-waste entering its facilities through an E-Waste Tracker Commodity Management System. This assures that all e-waste received by Alianza is 100% recycled and traceable. This “point to point” tracking method ensures that e-waste does not end up in the hands of other companies, local landfills, and is not illegally exported to other nations. Certificates of Destruction are issued on all e-waste recycled Alianza for recycling, thus creating a level of comfort for clients knowing that their e-waste is being disposed of lawfully and ethically. Video Verification of e-waste destruction is yet another service that Alianza can offer its clients, providing additional assurance that their confidential or proprietary information is 100% destroyed.

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, electronic discards, or e-waste, is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation’s waste stream. In addition, some researchers estimate that nearly 75 percent of old electronics are in storage, in part because of the uncertainty of how to properly dispose of these items.

As technology quickly evolves and new products are outdated almost as soon as they are available for purchase, the need for proper and safe disposal of e-waste is apparent. If products are still in working order or need minor repairs, they should be donated to a school, library, charity or church. If they are broken and need to be disposed of, there are several disposal options in San Diego County – do not place e-waste with your household trash.

Certain materials, particularly metals, in electronic devices can be salvaged and recycled, and proper handling of e-waste ensures that no harmful materials such as lead will contaminate our landfills or water supply.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board has launched an effort to create a “Zero Waste California.” The campaign asks all Californians to engage in activities to create more sustainable homes, offices and communities, by utilizing products that can be reused, recycled or repaired. If we all work together on this effort, we can significantly reduce the waste that goes into our landfills.

Not Designed For RecyclingMost electronic products are not designed with the end-of-life stage of the product in mind. Designers focus on the manufacturing of the product of course, but they generally ignore the realities of how the product will be handled when it’s discarded. They are clearly not thinking about how the products could be recycled.

Hard to Recycle MaterialsThe materials used in electronics are the biggest challenge for recycling. While manufacturers will tell us that their products are “completely” recyclable, the toxic materials in these products actually make it impossible to recycle them back into electronic products.

CRT glass. Cathode Ray Tube TVs and monitors contain four to eight pounds of lead, mostly in the glass of the CRT. This glass can only either go into a lead smelter (which uses a thermal process to recover the lead) or goes into “glass-to-glass” recycling – to a manufacturer who takes old CRT glass and makes new CRTs out of it. But it costs money to send glass to a smelter, and the shrinking market for CRTs has put many glass-to-glass recycling operations out of business. Dealing responsibly with CRT glass is one of the recyclers’ biggest challenges.

Plastics. Plastics comprise a large volume of most electronic products. But most of them have toxic additives, either brominated flame retardants or PVC, which make them too contaminated to recycle into new electronic products. Some of the plastics can be “downcycled” – recycled into lower grade product, like deck furniture, composite decking material. A lot of the plastics are used as aggregate in road building.

Hard to Take ApartRecyclers typically do some amount of product disassembly as the first step in the recycling process, at a minimum to remove the toxic components (mercury-containing parts, batteries, circuit boards, toner). But many products are not designed to be easily disassembled, using glue instead of fasteners, using, a whole range of screw sizes in one product (making the recycler use many different screwdrivers to remove them), making it hard to find fasteners, etc.

The LCD TV is perhaps the “poster child” for how electronics are not designed with recycling in mind, because of both material selection and physical design.

Most LCD TVs use mercury lamps to light the screen. An LCD TV will have typically 20 long, thin, fragile mercury lamps running from side to side, throughout the panel. Mercury is very toxic at very small amounts. So a responsible recycler would want to remove these mercury lamps before putting the rest of the device in a shredder or doing other processing that might lead to mercury exposure of recycling workers.

But to get at the mercury lamps inside a flat panel TV, you must disassemble the entire TV first, a process that takes a long time – much longer than it would take you to disassemble a CRT TV. So as a result, some recyclers simply toss the whole thing in the shredder, most certainly exposing their workers to mercury.

The “glass” in the LCD screen is made up of a layer of many kinds of liquid crystals. The liquid crystals are one of the most expensive materials in the TV. Can the LCD glass get recycled, to recover the liquid crystals? No, the “recommended” method of disposal of liquid crystals is incineration.

Where minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold (3TG), and cobalt are mined in conflict-affected or high-risk areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries, the revenue from the mining and trading of these minerals is a source of funding for armed groups and anti-government forces carrying out atrocities and human rights abuses. Minerals sourced from such conflict-affected or high-risk areas have the potential to promote conflict, human rights violations, and environmental degradation.

ViewSonic considers mining to be an intensive process involving social and environmental risks. ViewSonic believes that the mining of metals and minerals, including Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum, Gold (so-called conflict minerals) and Cobalt mined in the DRC, as well as other minerals mined in other regions, must be managed.

ViewSonic’s policy is that we want no part in any human rights violations or environmental destruction. While sourcing minerals that originate in conflict-affected or high-risk areas, we will not, by any means, tolerate, knowingly profit from, contribute to, assist with or facilitate the commission by any party of any form of human rights violations or abuses, or support operations that result in the degradation of socioeconomic and environmental stability.

As a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (“RMI”), we require suppliers to adhere to this policy and expect them to support and promote compliance within the supply chain.

3. Require suppliers to conduct due diligence on prioritized minerals in accordance with OECD Guidance and provide routine reporting using the tools developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to enable supply chain transparency

4. Ensure that minerals are procured only from smelters and refiners verified as compliant with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Program (RMAP) developed by the RMI. ViewSonic requires smelters and refiners to obtain proof of compliance through their supply chains.

5. Continue to collect relevant information regarding industry trends, customer reactions, and movements in the US, EU, and other regions to assure continued compliance to future regulations.

Since 2011 Vermonters have been recycling instead of disposing of their electronic waste. The Vermont E-Cycles program provides FREE and convenient recycling of computers, monitors, televisions, printers and computer peripherals to residents, charities, school districts, and small businesses at locations across Vermont.

Electronic devices contain toxic materials (including lead, mercury, and chromium) that should be managed responsibly as well as precious metals (such as gold) that should be recovered and recycled.

Although electronic waste is a small component of all waste that is disposed, it is the fastest growing component of waste. Consider that in 1970, most households had only 1 TV and 0 computers. In 2008, 1.6 million pounds of electronics were recycled in Vermont. In 2015 the number climbed to more than 4.6 million pounds recycled!

LAW: Vermont’s landfill disposal requirements makes it illegal to dispose of several materials, including many electronic devices. The Vermont E-Cycles statute provides for free and convenient collection of computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals, and televisions for covered entities. The law has been in place since 2011.

WHO: Consumers, charities, school districts, and small businesses that employ 10 or fewer individuals can use the E-Cycles program for free. Other individuals who bring in seven (7) or fewer devices can also recycle at no charge. Manufacturers have been paying for the e-waste collection and recycling program since July 1, 2011.

Other electronics banned from disposal but not covered under the E-Cycles program include but aren’t limited to: game consoles, telephones, personal music players, VCRs, DVD players, and stereo equipment. These items aren’t necessarily accepted at all locations, and some locations charge a fee.

WHERE: Call ahead and let them know what your are bringing to avoid surprises. For a list of locations click here. Or contact your solid waste authority, such as your Solid Waste District, for a wealth of information.

DATA SECURITY: Are you worried about leaving data on your computer when recycling it? It’s up to you to remove any sensitive data from your computer before taking it to an E-Cycles collection location.

If you’d like to do it yourself, there are two basic ways to destroy your data: physically break the hard drive disks, or permanently erase it using disk wiping software. Do a web search for “how to permanently erase a hard drive” or visit this article to find out more.

Electronics, such as televisions, computers, and computer monitors, contain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, lithium, brominated flame retardants, phosphorous coatings, and PVC plastics. When thrown away these devices can release their toxics, posing a threat to human health and the environment. Because of the threat posed by these toxics, it is illegal to throw away cathode ray tubes and LCD screens in Maine. Electronics also contain high quality plastics, copper, aluminum, and small amounts of silver, gold, and other precious metals. Mining and processing these the materials is energy intensive and environmentally detrimental. By recycling your old devices, you can prevent the release of toxic substances and ensure valuable materials are recovered.

From January 2006 through December 2021, Maine residents recycled nearly 103 million pounds of electronics with the help of electronics manufacturers!

Households, K-12 schools, small NGOs and businesses: Maine households, elementary and secondary schools, businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and 501(c)3 nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees can recycle much of their e-waste at little to no cost through Maine"s product stewardship program – scroll down for more information.

Other entities: Other entities cannot recycle electronic waste through the program, but their e-waste can – and sometimes must – still be recycled. Some electronic wastes are regulated as hazardous waste when generated by businesses, including electronics that contain cathode ray tubes, mercury lamps, and circuit boards.

Electronics leaving large businesses often have value in the reuse market, in which case businesses can direct their material to a company performing asset management – check with your electronics recycler to find out if they offer this service. Universal Waste Management Companies (PDF) can also ensure electronics from large businesses are handled and recycled in accordance with all regulatory requirements. For more information on the handling of electronics by Universal Waste Management Companies, contact the Hazardous Waste staff at (207)287-7688.

Under Maine’s product stewardship program for e-waste, manufacturers pay for the recycling of televisions, portable DVD players, game consoles, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, e-readers, 3D printers, desktop and portable printers, digital picture frames, and other visual display devices with screens of at least 4 inches measured diagonally and one or more circuit boards. Cell phones are not included in this program but may be recycled at the retail locations of cell service providers. Electronic accessories are not covered by the program but are often accepted at sites that accept the covered devices listed above.

Municipalities ensure that their residents have a collection site or event that will take these "covered electronic devices" for recycling. Some collection sites charge a small fee to help cover their costs of operation. Households, elementary and secondary schools, and small businesses and non-profits are responsible for bringing their e-waste to a collection site or event.

give IT. get IT. (previously PCs for MAINE and eWaste Alternatives) is a nonprofit that reuses computers to help people achieve their employment and educational goals. give IT. get IT. can accept all kinds of working or waste electronics from businesses or households. (off-site)

VDD retailers can sell only brands registered in Minnesota to households in the state — including through online and catalog sales — and must provide recycling information to their customers.

Covered electronic devicesare consumer electronics that can be collected, recycled, and sold to meet a manufacturer"s recycling obligation. They must meet be:

CED collected in a program year (July 1 to June 30) must be recycled and the pounds sold to a manufacturer within the program year. The MPCA issued updated guidance on the requirements in 2021:

The weight of electronics collected from households outside the 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties) is calculated at 1.5 times their actual weight.

The eWaste fee is due on the retail purchase or lease of a new or refurbished covered electronic device (CED) with a screen size of more than four inches measured diagonally and has been identified in the regulations adopted by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Refurbished CEDs are devices the manufacturer has tested and returned to a condition that meets factory specifications for the device and have been repackaged and labeled as refurbished.

Manufacturers are required to tell retailers which of their products have been identified as CEDs. New products may be identified by the DTSC and added to the regulations after they have been tested. Any new CEDs identified by DTSC and added to the regulations will become subject to the fee effective July 1, of the following year. For more information, contact the manufacturer or DTSC.

DTSC does not classify smartphones with LCD screens greater than four inches as CEDs. Alternatively, cell phones, including smartphones with screen sizes greater than four inches, are subject to a statutorily mandated collection and recycling program pursuant to the Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 (Chapter 8.6 of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resource Code).

On or before April 1st of each year, manufacturers are required to send a notice to all retailers that sell CEDs manufactured by the manufacturer on or before December 31 of the prior year. The notice shall identify the electronic devices that are CEDs subject to the eWaste fee.

In addition to the required notification letter, a manufacturer"s report is required to be filed with CalRecycle. This report is due on or before July 1st of each year.

If you are required to have a California seller"s permit or Certificate of Registration – Use Tax, you must register for an eWaste fee account and collect the fee when you sell CEDs to California customers. The CDTFA"s online registration system will guide you through the process. See our online guide, Use Tax Collection Requirements Based on Sales into CA Due to the Wayfair Decision, for more information on whether you may be required to register for sales and use tax purposes.

If you are not required to register for an eWaste fee account, you may voluntarily register to collect and pay the fee as a courtesy to your California customers. Upon collecting the fee, you must provide the customer with an invoice or similar document that lists the fee as a separate charge. A copy of the invoice or similar document should be retained by both the seller and customer.

The law requires the retailer to separately state the electronic waste recycling fee on the customer"s receipt. The CDTFA does not prescribe any particular format for the invoice, but you must be able to determine if the correct amount was collected and remitted on the number of CEDs sold. Either the CalRecycle or DTSC could later adopt a regulation prescribing the look of the invoice or receipt.

If a customer purchases a number of CEDs on one invoice, you may want to group the products and fees by fee category on your invoice. If you do this, you can list one fee total for each fee category. You can use this method or list each CED and fee amount separately.

As a retailer, you can opt to pay the fee on your customers behalf, but you must note that you have done so on the customer"s receipt. The entire fee is due with your fee return. When a retailer pays the fee and indicates that on the receipt, the customer has no liability for the fee.

A lay-away is generally a contract to sell at a future date and the eWaste fee would not apply until the full purchase price is paid and the sale is complete.

Internet sales are treated just like sales from bricks-and-mortar stores or sales by mail or phone. If you sell a CED to a California consumer and your business is in California, or you are required to hold a California seller"s permit or are registered, or should be registered, to collect California use tax, you owe the fee. If you are not required to collect the fee, your customer owes it.

If a California retailer is instructed by an out of state retailer to ship a CED directly to a California consumer, the California retailer/drop shipper is obligated to collect the fee. See the definition of retail sale for the purpose of the Sales and Use Tax Law, or for additional information on drop shipments, view Sales and Use Tax Regulation 1706

A consumer who buys a CED in a retail sale or a transaction subject to use tax owes the fee. The retailer is required to collect the fee and remit it to the CDTFA.

Retailers are required to collect the fee on retail purchases or leases by the Federal government. Transactions with the Federal Government are not exempt from the eWaste fee unless otherwise exempt.

Under specific conditions, a retailer who leases CEDs to consumers may choose to pay the eWaste fee to the vendor of those CEDs instead of collecting the fee from the consumers/lessees. A vendor is defined as the person making a sale of a covered electronic device (CED) for purposes of resale to a retailer who is the lessor of the CED to a consumer under a lease that is a continuing sale or purchase.

The retailer provides an express statement on the invoice, contract, or other record given to the lessee/consumer to document the lease/rental, that the fee has been paid on behalf of the lessee/consumer.

Part of a motor vehicle, as defined in Vehicle Code section 415, or a component part of a motor vehicle assembled by or for a vehicle manufacturer or franchised dealer. This includes replacement parts for use in a motor vehicle.

Contained within a clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator, refrigerator and freezer, microwave oven, conventional oven or range, dishwasher, room air conditioner, dehumidifier, or air purifier.

You must maintain records to document any sale not subject to the fee.   View our webpage, publication 103 Sales for Resale, for information on sales for resale. View our webpage, publication 101 Sales Delivered Outside California, for information on sales of products shipped directly to locations outside California.

Be sure to file your claim for refund by the applicable deadline. If you don"t file on time, CDTFA cannot consider your claim, even if you overpaid the eWaste fee. If you have questions about your deadline to file a refund claim, contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711), Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time), except state holidays.

If a customer returned a CED for which you collected the eWaste fee, you would return the fee to the customer. Please refer to Sales and Use Tax Regulation 1655, Returns, Defects and Replacements. The regulation describes the requirements for retailers to handle such transactions. We suggest you handle returns, defects and replacement transactions for this program in the same way.

A credit may be claimed on your CDTFA-501-ER, Electronic Waste Recycling Fee Return, for fees refunded to customers if you have reported and paid the fee on a previous return or, if you gave the refund during the reporting period.

If you have overpaid the eWaste fee directly to the CDTFA, you can file a claim for refund online by logging in to our online service system using your User ID and Password. Go to your eWaste fee account, and then select More under the I want to… section.

You may also file a claim by using form CDTFA-101, Claim for Refund or Credit or by filing an amended return(s) stating the specific reason(s) for the overpayment. Claims for refund should specify the period for which you are making the claim and the amount of the refund. Additional refund details are on the CDTFA"s refund page. You may mail your claims to:

Records must be retained for at least four years from the time the eWaste fee is due unless the CDTFA authorizes you in writing to destroy them sooner.

Proof that the eWaste fee was paid upon purchase of a CED does not need to be provided upon disposal. The disposal of a CED is a separate transaction from the purchase of a CED. The disposal facility may or may not charge the consumer a fee to dispose a CED, but either way, it will not be dependent upon a consumer having first paid an Electronic Waste Recycling Fee at the time they purchased the CED.

The eWaste law states that consumers will be provided with “cost free opportunities” to dispose their computers, monitors, and TVs. However, the CDTFA does not administer this portion of the law. Please contact the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) with your inquiry. They are responsible for administering the recycling programs. Contact information for the CalRecycle is listed below.

The collection of an electronic waste recycling fee at the retail point of sale of covered electronic devices. A list of covered electronic devices can be found on the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) managing hazardous waste page, or by visiting Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 11, Article 5, Appendix X subsection (c) of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

Requirements to remit collected fees to the State to fund the cost of collecting and recycling these covered electronic devices when they are discarded as wastes.

Retailers collect the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee on covered electronic devices from consumers. Retailers remit these fees to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). The latest information on the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee program, including the retailer registration form and fee remittance deadlines, are available at the CDTFA website.

A first-in-the-nation law that went into effect Wednesday in Maine requires makers of televisions and computer monitors to pick up the tab to recycle and safely dispose of their products once they are discarded.

Under the law, which mirrors the approach taken in Europe and Japan, manufacturers must pay for consolidators to gather and sort the electronic waste, then ship it to recycling centers where toxic materials such as lead and mercury are removed.

Environmental activists and state and local officials met with reporters at a recycling center where consumers can now drop off their old electronic boxes for $2 apiece, instead of the $15 or $20 that it cost a day earlier.

"It"s time to bring them out of the attics, out of the garages, out of the closets, out of the basements," said Jon Hinck, an attorney with the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which lobbied for the new law. "It"s going to be a lot cheaper than it"s been before, and we"re happy to say that these things will all be recycled in an environmentally sound way."

A California law requires payment of a disposal fee when a TV or computer monitor is purchased, while Maryland assesses registration fees from computer makers and disburses the proceeds to municipalities for use in collecting and recycling old computers.

Maine has approved five consolidators to manage the "e-waste," send it to recyclers and bill manufacturers for the costs according to the amount of waste they originated, said David Littell, acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. Disposal costs for "orphan units" whose manufacturers are no longer in business will be shared by the other companies in proportion to their overall costs.

Toxic concernsTVs and older computer monitors each contain between four and eight pounds of lead, along with an array of other toxic materials, and newer flat-screen monitors contain mercury, according to the Natural Resources Council, the state"s largest environmental group.

The primary purpose of the law is to keep those materials from being released into the environment from incinerators or landfills, but it"s also intended to encourage manufacturers to use less lead and to design products that lend themselves to recycling, advocates said.

Cities and states across the country are considering various versions of electronic waste legislation designed to address what the Environmental Protection Agency has called the nation"s fastest-growing category of solid waste.

The Electronic Industries Alliance, a trade group representing manufacturers of computers and televisions, expressed concern about the Maine law, suggesting that the state may have difficulty holding some foreign and small generic manufacturers to the same standards imposed on makers of brand-name equipment.

"We clearly want to see this addressed at a national level. We think that"s one way to avoid some of those loopholes," said Rick Goss, the association"s director of environmental affairs in Arlington, Va.

Goss said there are advantages and disadvantages to the approaches taken by Maine and California. He said his group is keeping close watch on both states to see how their respective programs work in practice.

Joining in the announcement was Sandy Cort of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine, who said capturing potential neurotoxins before they are released in Maine"s air and water "will help protect the neurological health of generations of Maine children."

"Maine"s electronic waste recycling law based on product stewardship is a national model as it protects our environment, saves taxpayers money and puts costs where they belong to encourage safe design and recycling of electronic wastes," he said in a statement.

One of the largest recycling problems faced by most countries comes down to the sheer volume of computer electronics that are obsolete and outdated. With technology advances showing no signs of slowing down, it"s no wonder that businesses and home users are constantly upgrading computer monitors.

It"s easy to say that you should be recycling old electronics because it"s the right thing to do. But it"s far more important to understand the fundamental impacts that electronics have on our world when they end up in the trash.

The first thing that"s important to understand is how big of a problem electronics are. With people replacing phones every year and computers every few years, it shouldn"t come as a surprise that there are mountains of discarded electronics every year.

When e-waste like monitors isn"t properly handled at the end of its life, then exposure to the natural elements alone can cause many of the toxic materials to break down and evaporate into the air.

But even modern LCD monitors contain many different metals and chemicals that are perfectly safe when they are contained. But even small amounts of them in the open air canseriously damage animals, plants, and humans.

When monitors and other computer electronics are illegally dumped, or they end up at a landfill, then all those metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium can ultimately release due to heat, cold, and moisture exposure.

But heavy metals like mercury, lithium, and lead don"t just seep into the soil and stop there. Over time, gravity and water wash these metals further and further down until they hit the water table.

These are not problems that arise suddenly, and contamination often happens over many years with a gradual accumulation of the toxins. Once there are symptoms, a lot of the damage has often been done, and people can be left with permanent health problems.

OK, now that you know that those old monitors in the garage or basement could be a health hazard and that the right thing to do is to recycle computer monitors, it"s time to go through this simple process.

If there are loose cables still attached, or the monitor is still attached to a computer, then make sure you remove all the cables first. You can recycle these as well, but it"s best to keep them separate.

You need to make sure that you"ll safely carry and transport the monitor. E-waste can easily break, and it might have already deteriorated a bit if it"s been in storage for a long time.

Now is also a good time to check for any other electronic devices like printers, scanners, and DVD players that are just taking up space and never used.

Make sure that your old computer monitors are safely placed in your trunk so that they avoid falling or rolling around. Those external plastics won"t stand up to much force, and you can quickly damage internal components that contain the heavy metals.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you can bring your old e-waste to the GreenCitizen recycling facility. The company has years of experience in recycling electronic devices and offers competitive rates.

The recycling process for computers and monitors starts with carefully taking apart the electronics into their individual components. There are plenty of plastics, and then there"s the glass and multiple circuit boards.

Separating these materials requires specialized equipment that breaks them down into a pile of metals and plastic. The metals can then be further separated and recycled as raw materials for the electronics industry.

This is becoming an increasingly important part of protecting the environment. Unfortunately, all electronics from your phone to your computer monitor contain many types of metals that often come from mines in third-world countries.

These mines often operate under devastating conditions for both the environment and the people that work in them. Making sure that the majority of those metals can be recycled from devices reduces the demand for such mining operations.

While some materials in these devices can enter the cycle economy, there are others like lead glass that can"t be reused. These need to be separated and then disposed of at specialist sites using containers that make sure they are sealed indefinitely or until there"s a solution for dealing with it better.

Public opinion and media attention, and through countries and states introducing legislation, have forced many manufacturers to create their own recycling program for electronic items.

While they might not take care of the overall breakdown of the materials, many of them do offer to take back old computer monitors, printers, hard drives, phones, and laptops for free or a nominal fee.

LGoffers a simple process where you can find a drop-off site near you or mail your monitor in at your own expense. The company accepts all electronics that they manufacture, and they partner with some of the largest recycling companies.

Dellhas created a unique approach in that they offer a drop-off and mail-in service where they accept any brand of products. Whether it"s a Dell computer or old Canon printers, if you can attach it to a computer, they will accept it.

Many major electronics stores now offer a recycling program where you can drop off computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, and anything electrical that you bought there.

Now, it used to be the case that you could recycle a monitor if you bought it at the store and had the receipt or if you were buying a new monitor. But it seems like that wasn"t enough of an incentive, and many stores now allow you to drop off several devices per day even if you didn"t buy them there.

Stapleshave a drop-off point in their stores where you can bring pretty much any old computer equipment for free. This is mainly for consumer products and other electronic devices, but it does exclude large kitchen and household appliances.

Best Buy also has a drop-off program, and this is an ideal option if you have a broken monitor and need to head to Best Buy for a new one. Simply hand over the old one as you head into the store, and you"ve saved yourself a trip.

Walmart is rolling out a new concept called the ecoATM. This will allow you to bring old electronics to a designated ATM and then turn it into cash, depending on the age and state. It"s a great way to see if you have some hidden cash sitting in your basement or garage.

In line with a long-standing Electronic Waste Recycling Act, municipalities in California have been leading the way through a program called CalRecycle.

This should be your first option if you have computer monitors that are relatively modern and still in working order. Many charities and Goodwill stores will happily accept electronics that could help out people with little financial means.

And the one thing that beats dropping off a computer monitor at a recycling program is to make sure that someone gets as much use out of it as possible.

Simply contact a local charity store or Goodwill and provide them with details about your device"s age and specifications, and they"ll quickly let you know whether they"ll accept it.

Not only will you do the right thing for the environment, but you"ll also help someone out to enjoy technology they otherwise might not be able to afford.

If you"re in the San Francisco Bay Area and have some old monitors from personal home use, then GreenCitizen offers a free drop-off service . And the process couldn"t be any easier.

You just need to fill out a form with the details of the monitor and computers before you pack them up. Then call to the drop-off point at the GreenCitizen Burlingame EcoCenter and wait for a member of the team to meet you.

Not only will GreenCitizen ensure that everything is safely recycled, but th