Effective January 24, 2011, the Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA), Act 108 of 2010, requires a manufacturer of covered devices to register each of their brands they want to sell in Pennsylvnia with the Department of Environmental Protection and take responsibility for recycling an amount equal by weight of covered devices they sell in Pennsylvania. Covered devices include desktop computers, monitors, laptops, computer peripherals and televisions. No person may dispose of a covered device after January 24, 2013.
Who is impacted?
- Manufacturers of desktops, laptops, computer monitors and televisions (one who manufacturers covered devices sold under their own brand, or sells covered devices manufactured by others but sold under their own brand)
- Retailers
- Collectors of covered devices
- Recycling Facilities
- Households
Manufacturer Responsibilities - by January 1, 2012:
- Registration - including an annual fee of $5,000 • Planning - including methods to collect CDs, collection locations, processes used to recycle, names and locations of recyclers, means to publicize, intent to meet requirements of the Act
- Reporting - including an estimate of total weight of covered devices sold in PA and weight of covered devices recycled and appropriate verification documentation
- Manufacturers of "peripherals" only do not need to register. Peripherals include keyboards, printers or other devices for external use with a computer.
- If manufacturers do not meet their obligated recycling share of 100% by weight of CDs sold, manufacturers will have to increase recycling share by 2% per year
Retailer Responsibilities - by January 1, 2012:
- May purchase and sell only registered brands
- Notify customers about how to recycle
- Provide additional information
- Retailers and Manufacturers may not pass recycling costs onto consumer unless a financial incentive (coupon, rebate or other) of equal or greater value is provided to consumer
By January 1, 2012, locations to recycle covered devices will be available to residents of PA. Information is available on DEP's web page at www.dep.state.pa.us. Choose "DEP Programs A-Z," then choose "Electronics Recycling." DEP's recycling hotline can be reached at 1-800-346-1212.