Electronics Recycling Options for Schools and Not for Profit Agencies

As of January 1, 2012, The NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act requires certain classifications of NYS consumers including businesses, private or public corporations, not for profit corporations and government entities, et al. are prohibited from disposing of, or placing for collection intended for disposal, electronic waste (such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions, small scale servers, and small electronic equipment, etc.) at a solid waste management facility in the state.

What this means to you as a classification listed above is that it is now illegal to put electronics covered by the law out for disposal as trash.

Most of the entities listed above should not be charged for their e-waste recycling. However, for-profit businesses with 50 or more full-time employees and not-for-profit corporations with 75 or more full-time employees may be assessed a charge for these services by manufacturers. In addition, any consumer may be charged for “premium services.” “Premium services” are any services above and beyond the reasonably convenient acceptance methods defined in the Act. These include equipment and data security services, refurbishment for reuse by the consumer, data wiping, specialized packing and preparation for collection, etc.

Recycle Your Electronic Waste in Three Easy Steps:
1. Go to NYSDEC’s list of electronic equipment manufacturers registered in NYS, to find manufacturers, their brands of covered electronic equipment, websites and toll-free telephone numbers. Or visit Greener Gadgets and enter your zip code for a list of local electronics recyclers near your place of business.

2. Find the manufacturer’s brand of equipment you wish to recycle, and click on that manufacturer’s public education website link or call its listed toll-free telephone number. Not only are manufacturers required to accept equipment for which they are the manufacturer, but they are also required to accept one piece of electronic waste of any manufacturer’s brand if offered by a consumer with the purchase of covered electronic equipment of the same type by a consumer — meaning, you may be able to use your new product’s manufacturer’s recycling program for your old equipment as well, regardless of your old equipment’s brand.

3. Follow the specific instructions listed on the manufacturer’s website or provided over the telephone. The manufacturer will provide information on how to recycle your equipment, free of charge.

For additional assistance or information on how to comply with this law please contact the Town's Recycling Coordinator.

Electronic Equipment Covered by the Law:
• Computers 
• Televisions 
• Cathode ray tubes 
• Small scale servers 
• Computer peripherals (including any cable, cord, or wiring permanently affixed to or incorporated into the computer peripheral.) 
o Monitors 
o Electronic keyboards 
o Electronic mice or similar pointing devices 
o 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 permanently affixed to or incorporated into the small electronic equipment.) 
o VCRs 
o Digital video recorders 
o Portable digital music players 
o DVD players 
o Digital converter boxes 
o Cable or satellite receivers 
o Electronic or video game consoles