Resources Saved through E-Waste Recycling in Maine

Residents of Maine break the law if they throw away their televisions or computer monitors. Instead, residents are expected to use the resources offered through the municipal e-waste recycling. Each city or town must instead provide residents the resources to properly dispose of their televisions and computer monitors. This has been a requirement since Maine enacted the first of its kind law on April 22, 2004. At that time, it was decided that starting on January 1, 2006, it would be illegal for televisions and computer monitors to be thrown out. From then on, used televisions and computer monitors could only be disposed of using the resources provided through Maine's e-waste recycling program.

Generally, the resources for recycling televisions and other electronics are provided in one of three ways. The first way is through ongoing collections at municipal transfer stations, landfills, or local recycling centers. The second way people may drop off these electronics and help to save some resources is through periodic one-day collection events for used televisions and other electronic products. The third way is through taking television and other electronics to private locations approved for the collection of such items.

From January 2006 to mid-2008, over 10 million pounds of electronics were recycled through this program. That's a lot of saved resources. Although manufactures pay for the recycling of the televisions and computer monitors, some of the residents have to pay a fee for the cost of collection of their products.

Yet, Maine does not just provide resources for the recycling of televisions, computer monitors, and other large electronic devices. Cell phones must also be recycled in Maine. Since January 1, 2008, any Maine location that sells cell phones also has to accept used cell phones back for recycling at no charge to the customer. According to Maine law, any location that sells cell phones must display a sign in a prominent location announcing that they will accept back used cell phones at no charge to the customer. This is important for customers who might be unaware that their used cell phones need to be recycled.

The key to the success of Maine's e-waste recycling program is the compliance of everyone involved. This means that residents, cities, and manufacturers must all comply with the law. Those who are not in compliance with the law can find themselves with fines and other penalties.

Some might wonder why it is so important to abide by Maine's e-waste recycling program. Other states do not abide by the same regulations, and those other states seem to be doing fine. Yet, it is amazing to think that over a two and a half year period, over 10 million pounds of possible waste was instead recycled. That's 10 million pounds of waste that is not causing harm to the environment. Some of the components in televisions and computer monitors are what make it so important for them not to end up in landfills. For example, the cathode ray tubes used in non-flat screen televisions contain four to eight pounds of lead on average. This lead can be harmful to the environment when just thrown into landfills. There are also plastics in televisions which contain flame retardants that are toxic and which harm the environment.

Samantha Kleiner writes for homeowners. Additional information available at:
http://www.localrestorations.com/Maine