What is the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee Law? When does it go into effect?
The new Electronic Waste Recycling Fee law requires a retailer to collect a fee when certain video display devices are sold to consumers, starting January 1, 2005. The consumer owes the fee on the purchase, but the retailer must collect the fee when a sale of a covered electronic device is made in a store, by mail order, or over the Internet. The money collected from the fee will help pay for the safe recycling of video display devices such as computer monitors and televisions, which contain hazardous materials. 2. Which sales are subject to the fee? The retailer must collect the fee on the retail sale or lease of a new or refurbished video* display device that has a screen size of more than 4 inches measured diagonally. These are called “covered electronic devices” (CEDs). They include: • Televisions that contain cathode ray tubes. • Computer monitors that contain cathode ray tubes or use liquid crystal displays. • Laptop computers. • “Bare” cathode ray tubes or any other product that
