The E-Waste Problem and Our Work For Solutions


Electronics Industry Tries End-Run Around State Laws

The electronics industry has filed a lawsuit against New York City's e-waste recycling law. This suit represents an attack by the industry on both state and local product stewardship legislation. More


Indiana Governor Signs E-Waste Bill Into Law

Indiana Gov. Daniels signed HB1589 into law on May 13, 2009 - the first takeback bill to pass in 2009. The IN law is modeled on the Minnesota law, setting collection goals based on the manufacturers' market share.


How Do The Laws Work?

Brief Comparison on basic elements This chart compares all the state e-waste laws. Start here if you are new to this topic.

Detailed description of each state law Gives detailed answers to the same 20 questions about each state law. For policy wonks only!

State by State Summary of laws passed and bills pending for 2010. This lists each state, shows what laws have been passed already, and what laws are under consideration this year. Links to pending bills and bill status.

What products are covered under each bill? Chart comparing scope of products of all e-waste laws.

How much e-waste is each state collecting? (New) Chart with collection volumes from CA, ME, MN, OR, WA.


What states have passed e-waste disposal ban laws?

Fact Sheet: States Where TVs Can Still Go in the Trash.

More detail on states which have passed laws banning e-waste from landfills and/or incinerators.


Legislation Timeline

Year Law Passed
State/City Passing Law
2003 California
2004 Maine
2005 Maryland
2006 Washington
2007 Connecticut
Minnesota
Oregon
Texas
North Carolina
2008 New Jersey
New York City
Oklahoma
Virginia
West Virginia
Missouri
Hawaii
Rhode Island
Illinois
Michigan

2009

Indiana

Wisconsin

 


Resources:

For more resources, go to our Toolkit For State Legislative Advocates

 

State Legislation

States Are Passing E-Waste Legislation

So far, 20 states, plus New York City have passed legislation mandating statewide e-waste recycling. Several more states are considering legislation in 2010 (in yellow below). All laws except California use the Producer Responsibility approach, where the manufacturers must pay for recycling.

Map of states with laws
State
Date signed into Law Start date for recycling
Link to Law or bill
State program website
States and Cities with Producer Responsibility Laws

Connecticut

July 2007

July 1, 2009

But delayed awaiting final rules. Est start now June 2010

CT law

Program info

Hawaii

July 2008 Jan 2, 2010

Hawaii bill

State agency website

Illinois

Sept 17, 2008 Jan 1, 2010

Illinois Law

State agency website

2010 Goals

Indiana

May 13, 2009 April 1, 2010

Indiana Law

Summary of law

Agency Website

Maine

2004 Jan 2006

Maine Law

Program Info

Maryland

2005 Jan 2006

Maryland Law

Program Info

Michigan

Dec 26, 2008 April 1, 2010

Michigan Law

Agency website

Minnesota

May 2007 August 2007

Minnesota Law

Program Info

Missouri

June 16, 2008 July 1 2010 or after

Missouri bill

Draft Rules

State agency program website

New Jersey

Signed Jan 15, 2008

Amended bill signed Jan 12, 2009

Jan 1, 2011

Original New Jersey Bill

 

Amended bill

Program Info

New York CITY

INT 728 signed by Mayor 4/1/2008

INT 729 Vetoed by Mayor but council overrode 5/14/08

July 1 2009 date has been delayed

 

Read about lawsuit against NYC law.

Passed as 2 separate laws in 2008:

Local Law 13 established the program.

Local Law 21established goals.

 

North Carolina

Aug 2007

Bill adding TVs passed Aug 2008

Jan 1, 2010

NC Bill (This is an omnibus waste bill. See Section 16 for e-waste language.)

2008 Bill adding TVs to program.

 State agency

e-waste site

Oklahoma

May 13, 2008 Jan 1, 2009 Oklahoma Law State agency program website

Oregon

June 2007 Jan 1, 2009 Oregon law

Program info
Study on State Recycling Infrastructure

Rhode Island

Jun 27, 2008 Feb 1, 2009 Rhode Island Law  State e-waste site
Texas June 2007 Sept 1, 2008 Texas bill

Texas program

 

Report on 2009

Virginia

March 11, 2008 July 1, 2009 Virginia bill State Agency program website

Washington

Mar 2006 Began Jan 1, 2009 Washington Law

Program website

 

Data on amounts collected in 2009

 

Data on amounts collected in 2010

 

Summary of Year 1 of Wash. Program

West Virginia

April 1, 2008 July 1 2009 W VA bill State agency program website
Wisconsin Oct 23, 2009 Jan 1, 2010

Wisconsin bill

Bill summary

 
States with Consumer Fee Laws

California

2003

California Laws and Program Info

Even though California passed an ARF bill for e-waste, in Sept 2007 the State Agency adopted a resolution calling for an extended producer responsibility (EPR) approach and framework for future state policy.
Detailed policy on EPR

How Do The Laws Work?

Brief Comparison on basic elements This chart compares all the state e-waste laws against basic criteria.

What products are covered under each law? What electronic products are covered by the laws? This chart compares the scope of products of all e-waste laws. Generally, the scope of products is getting broader, with more recent laws including more products including printers, faxes, and other devices.

How much e-waste is each state collecting? (New) Chart with collection volumes from CA, ME, MN, OR, WA.

Bills in Play in 2010

State by State Summary of laws passed and bills pending for 2010. This lists each state, shows what laws have been passed already, and what laws are under consideration This year. Links to pending bills and bill status.