New Jersey e-scrap bills target uniform recycling across the state

HAMILTON (Scrap Monster): The New Jersey e-scrap regulations aim to make electronics recycling uniform across the state. The Senate Bill 981 sponsored by Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Sen. Bob Smith was passed by the Senate in March this year. An identical bill is currently in the Assembly too.

According to the proposed legislation, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is entitled to set annual recycling collection quotas for manufacturers depending on the total weight in pounds actually collected during any program year. The manufacturers would be required to provide for the collection, transportation and recycling of its market share in weight of all covered devices collected in a program year in place of the current system which is based on "return share in weight" as estimated by the state DEP. In addition, the definition of “consumer” will be modified to include state entities, school districts and local government. Also, fax machines and printers will be added to the list of covered devices.

Electronics recyclers have long been demanding a change in the state’s extended producer responsibility law. The present law leads to huge spending by local governments towards disposing of used electronics. Most manufacturers meet their annual recycling obligations well before the expiration of calendar year, thereby making it the responsibility of local governments to dispose the excess electronic waste by using public funds. The situation has also led to halting of collections by some cities and counties. The new law is expected to produce huge annual cost savings to local governments.

Under the proposed legislation, manufacturers would not be able to close their collection locations during the year. Also, manufacturers of covered devices would be assessed a shortfall penalty for noncompliance.