FULL OF SCRAP California is cruisin’ toward another first in e-cycling

Feb 01, 2008 | 11:28 AM |

In the design contest for state-mandated recycling programs, California has managed to become the captain of both teams.

The state's electronics recycling program, launched in 2005 for televisions and computer monitors, is based on an advanced recovery fee—ARF, in recycling circles—of $6 to $10 levied on buyers of new equipment. The state moves the money through a fund that reimburses collectors and recyclers.

Although California was the first state to mandate a program for defunct electronics, all the later states that did so chose a different approach producer responsibility, or extended producer responsibility (EPR) in wonk speak. The agency that runs California's fee-based program for discarded electronics recently adopted its own producer responsibility strategic directive to shape future recycling initiatives. For the guidance of the legislature, it also has prepared an Extended Producer Responsibility Framework, into which future product-specific or substance-specific activities could be fitted.

So the first state with ARF for computers and televisions might also become the first state with a multi-product EPR on its statutes. ....