According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), electronics waste is the “fastest growing waste stream in the U.S.” http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf, p.2. Electronics waste—including computers, computer monitors, and televisions—contain substances that “can be harmful to our health and pollute our environment if released into the air, water and soil.” http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf, p.2.
That is why in Oregon as of January 1, 2010, it is illegal to throw computers, computer monitors and televisions in the trash. The law has teeth. Each violation can lead to a $500 civil penalty. http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/459.html (see ORS 459.995(d)). But the law isn’t all stick. Lawmakers have provided a sort of carrot. They’ve made it easier for folks to comply with the new law by creating E-Cycles, a program that provides free recycling of computers, monitors and televisions at 220 collection sites statewide.
If you live in Oregon and are in search of one of these sites, call 1-888-532-9253. For more information, see DEQ’s online question and answer brochure at http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf. If you live in Oregon and want to dispose of electronic waste other than computers, monitors or televisions, check out this list of other electronics recycling centers in the state: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/consumers/otherrecyclers.htm.
If you live outside of Oregon, contact your city or county solid waste office to find out about similar programs in your area.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow!
ReplyDelete