New Bill to Boost E-Waste Recycling in Minnesota

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Minnesota’s electronic waste law, introduced in 2007, covers only a few electronic devices such as televisions, computers and fax machines. The electronics market has undergone rapid expansion since then, with addition of new gadgets. As per estimates, the state recycles only 20% of its electronic waste.

In order to ensure better electronics waste recycling, Athena Hollins, Democratic representative from St. Paul, Minnesota has come up with an update of the 2007 law. Hollins called the existing law “terribly outdated” and noted that the new bill aims to collect 100% of electronic waste in Minnesota by bringing all electronically powered products under the purview of the definition of electronic waste.

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The bill proposes to add 3.2% fee at the point of sale for most electronics sold in the state. The collected fee would go into a state-managed fund, from which waste collectors will be reimbursed every quarter for picking up and shipping items to recyclers. Meantime, cell phones would be charged a flat 90-cent fee.

The fee would provide net savings for consumers. For instance, they will have to pay only around $6 extra for a microwave oven to avail free disposal. It must be noted that residents now pay around $25 to recycle a microwave oven.

By fully recovering electronic waste, Minnesota is estimated to recover more than 78 million pounds of valuable elements, including palladium, platinum and gold.