If you use a computer, this will be of interest to you — starting with the new year, old electronics in New Jersey won’t be heading to the landfill anymore. Instead, a new law mandates that they be recycled.
Philly.com reports that the state law bans sending the equipment to landfills, similar to laws in other states. Also:
The law is being implemented at what amounts to prime time for electronics buying and disposal – the holidays, followed by the Super Bowl, which prompts many TV owners to upgrade.
New Jersey’s and Pennsylvania’s bills target televisions and computer equipment, both bulky and heavy, which add to landfill costs when its figured by weight. Plus, the plastic and metal aren’t good for landfills.
New Jersey’s law will put the responsibility of recycling with the manufacturers, but each state has a different program. Many recycling centers take electronics among their acceptable recyclable materials.
I don’t know how I feel about any state mandating computer recycling, but it’s probably good that states are starting to do something, considering how fast old electronics pile up. I gave away my last phone, but at my house alone, we have one other old phone and two old laptops, left over from college. Luckily, our local recycling place takes all kinds of electronics for refurbishing or recycling.
What do you think? Is it good or bad that states are passing electronics recycling laws?
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter @CarnegieJersey.