Starting with the New Year, you better think twice before setting that old piece of electronic equipment out on the curb.
Televisions, computers of all types and accompanying equipment, cathode ray rubes, and small electronic equipment, including any cord with that equipment, can no longer be taken to landfills, waste-to-energy facilities or placed at the curb for trash pickup.
A new law taking effect January 1, 2015 requires residents in New York State to recycle their electronic waste. Most manufacturers provide instructions to do so, or you can drop it off at an electronic waste collection site.
The Department of Environmental Conservation provides a list of statewide electronic drop-off locations, but warns you may be charged a fee if the facility does not accept your particular type or brand of equipment. You can see a list of drop-off locations in Erie County by clicking here.
Below is a full list of items covered under the new law that can no longer go out with the garbage:
- Computers (including laptops, desktops, tablets and e-readers) - erase personal information before recycling
- Televisions
- Cathode ray tubes
- Computer peripherals (including any cable, cord, or wiring accompanying the computer peripheral)
- Monitors
- Electronic keyboards
- Electronic mice or similar pointing devices
- Facsimile machines, document scanners, and printers (only those intended for use with a computer and weighing less than 100 lbs)
- Small electronic equipment (including any cable, cord, or wiring accompanying the small electronic equipment)
- VCRs
- Digital video recorders (DVRs)
- Portable digital music players
- DVD players (including projectors with DVD player capabilities intended for home-use)
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable or satellite receivers (including digital media receivers)
- Electronic or video game consoles (including both handheld devices and those intended for use with a video display device)
- Small scale servers
If you are unsure if your electronic waste can be disposed of with the trash, call the DEC at 518-402-8706
or email ewaste@dec.ny.gov.
The law was passed as a way to divert thousands of pounds of waste from landfills and keep toxins, such as lead, mercury and cadmium from contaminating the air, water and soil. It also conserves natural resources by recycling valuable materials.
