When Governor Chris Christie signed legislation in 2017 that made changes in how agencies handle electronic waste in New Jersey, it forced authorities to reassess how they handle the countless modern devices that are tossed in the trash each day.
Under the 2017 law, device manufacturers that make computers, televisions, printers, and other such gear must pay a $5,000 fee to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protect (DEP). Those fees fund recycling and disposal costs throughout the state, aimed at the county level.
Every county runs its own program. Though they must use an authorized E-Waste recycler, challenges can differ from county to county.
For example, Lyn Crumbock, recycling coordinator with Cape May County, said her agency manages three sites for its electronic waste program, serving 16 towns in the area. Being a shore region that experiences a lot of tourism gives her agency a unique challenge: Year-round residents know the guidelines about what can be recycled, but summer visitors often have different rules in their home communities. As a result, summer tends to be when non-qualifying devices end up in collections.
Crumbock tries to mitigate that information gap by increasing public service announcements in the summer on local cable systems or social media.
In order to fulfill its obligations, the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) manages 10 collection sites, and also hosts regular Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days. These targeted days allow residents to toss out old computers, monitors, and related devices in a more structured way – having a schedule day helps people remember what E-Waste they should and should not be recycling – and for the Authority to manage the overall flow of incoming waste.
Meanwhile, the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority urges people to remember that its E-Waste program is designed for computers and related devices. Residents should avoid mixing in appliances such as microwaves, alarm clocks, and other such devices.
“If the items are in working condition, consider donating them to a charitable non-profit. Otherwise, discard these items as garbage, bulk waste or scrap metal,” the MUA writes. Also, “Please remove any rechargeable batteries and recycle them first.”
Somerset County also has designated E-Waste days, with Saturday drop-offs one week a month throughout 2024. They agency requires proof of residency during these drop-off days, and does not allow businesses and/or commercial vehicles to take part.
Providing these services is not as easy as just setting up a drop-off site. According to a 2018 DEP informational pamphlet, “Not all collection sites are obligated to accept all (consumer electronic devices) from all consumers, so, consumers should check with the intended collection site for any limitations on from whom or what type of CEDs they accept.”
However, the program also aims to ensure that “each county has sufficient collection opportunities available for all types of CEDs from all types of consumers.”
In some cases, this may mean operating multiple recycling sites to provide the necessary breadth of services. Cape May County, for example, has sites at its landfill, its transfer station and in Ocean City. These efforts are managed by an authorized third party E-Waste recycler, in this case Reworld (formerly Covanta). Crumbock calls them “a tremendous partner” for the county.
According to Newtech Recycling, another authorized recycler, “Just about anything with a plug is classified as e-waste. In your office, common everyday items like your computer/laptop, keyboard, mouse, printer/copier, phone, television, etc. are all classified as e-waste and must be recycled. Any equipment, hardware, or machinery with circuit boards are also classified as e-waste.”
Whichever recycler an authority chooses to work with, they should be prepared to sort, pack, transport, and dispose of and/or recycle E-Waste as per EPA and DEP regulations. This may include harvesting circuitry, removing batteries for disposal, pulling wires and solder joints, and more.
All that material is handled in a wide variety of ways. Plastic in the devices is shredded and sold (often to China). Leaded glass in old TVs is treated as a hazardous material and receives special disposal consideration. And so on.
Registration with the state is required in order to become an authorized E-Waste recycler. Registration comes with a $15,000 fee.
The DEP also provides Recycling Enhancement Grants that can be used for other non-covered devices.
The DEP publishes a list of approved collection sites from across the state. It can be found at https://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/ewaste/collectionsites.pdf. Note that some restrictions may apply; check the left column for site-to-site drop-off limitations.
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