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Programs > E-Waste > Consolidators & Recyclers Guide to Maine's Television and Computer Monitor Recycling Law
Consolidators & Recyclers Guide to Maine’s Television and Computer Monitor Recycling LawShared Responsibility for RecyclingIn the Spring of 2004, Maine passed a new law An Act to Protect the Public Health and the Environment by Providing for a System of Shared Responsibility for the Safe Collection and Recycling of Electronic Waste, (38 MRSA §1610). This law established a system for the recycling of waste televisions and computer monitors generated by households in Maine. Municipalities, consolidators, recyclers, manufacturers and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) all have responsibilities under this law. A complete copy of the law can be obtained at www.Maine.gov/dep/rwm/solidwaste/index.htm or by calling 207-287-2651. Products covered by this lawProducts covered (“covered electronic devices”) are wastes generated by households in Maine, including:
Products with cathode ray tubes or flat panel displays that are not subject to the law include:
Annual Consolidator approval by Maine DEPMaine DEP accepts applications from businesses seeking to become an approved consolidator until October 1 of each year for the next calendar year. A copy of the most recent application form is available at www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ewaste. Approval is based on technical ability, financial capacity, and competitive costs. Municipalities’ responsibilities for collectionMaine’s municipalities are responsible for providing their residents with a convenient system for collecting waste household computer monitors and televisions, and for arranging pick up by consolidators approved by Maine DEP to bill recycling costs to the manufacturers. Collection can be accomplished by an annual one-day collection, an on-going collection at a solid waste or recycling facility, or a contract with a local consolidation facility to allow residents to deliver their wastes directly to the facility. To ensure that manufacturers are charged only the cost of recycling household computer monitors, municipalities must clearly identify which televisions and computer monitors they’ve collected were generated by households. Manufacturers are responsible for paying the consolidators’ costs of handling and recycling the household televisions and monitors, plus at least some of the transportation costs. If the collection site accumulates more than 16,000 pounds of household e-waste, the municipalities are not responsible for any transportation costs. (Municipalities may contract with a consolidator for additional Universal Waste management services, and may incur transportation and management costs for these additional materials.) Consolidator responsibilities for waste computer monitors and televisionsConsolidators have five basic responsibilities under this law:
Dismantling/Recycling facility responsibilitiesDismantlers and recycling facilities must manage household televisions and computer monitors received under this program in accordance with the environmentally sound management guidelines published by the Maine DEP. They must also provide consolidators with a sworn certification that their handling, processing, refurbishment, and recycling processes meet these guidelines. Where to direct all submittals and questionsAll submittals required by this law should be submitted to: MEDEP staff contact for this program is:
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