Laws of Electronics

Maryland also passed a law in 2004 that sets up a five-year pilot program for recycling desktop computers, laptops, and computer monitors from any source (business, household, institutional). Under the program, manufacturers of these products must register with the State and pay an annual $5,000 fee. If the manufacturer implements a take-back program, the fee is reduced to $500 after the first year. The collected registration fees go into a state recycling trust fund that can be used by local governments to fund collection and recycling programs.The most recent mandatory electronics recycling program was enacted in Washington State in March, 2006. Washington State’s program is yet another approach in which manufacturers are assigned complete financial responsibility for collecting and recycling desktop computers, laptops, televisions and computer monitors generated by households, small businesses, small governments, charities and school systems. By state law, manufacturers fulfill their obligations through participation in a mandatory state-created authority, or through independent plans approved by the state meeting specific legislated criteria. Decisions about whether manufacturers will pay based on their share of returned brands or on new product sales – or some combination – will be made by the authority.