Colorado Law Prohibits Landfill Disposal of Electronics
The “Electronic Recycling Jobs Act,” (SB12-133) prohibits the disposal of waste electronic devices (e-waste) in Colorado as of July 1, 2013. This new law affects consumers, waste haulers, transfer stations, and landfill operators throughout the state. Effective July 1, residents can no longer place computers and many other types of electronics at the curb, or in the waste bins, for collection and disposal. Instead consumers must deliver their electronic equipment to collection facilities or collection events for recycling. Haulers are prohibited from knowingly collecting electronics. Industry, businesses, government agencies, institutions and schools are already subject to restrictions on disposal of electronic wastes, by the Universal Waste Rule [Colorado Hazardous Waste Regulations 6 CCR 1007-3 Part 273.]
Electronics that are Banned from Disposal
“Waste electronic devices”, as defined by the new law, include television sets, central processing units (CPUs), computer monitors, peripherals, printers, fax machines, laptops, notebooks, ultra books, net books, electronic tablets, digital video disc players, video cassette recorders and video display devices with a screen greater than four inches.
Environmental Hazards
Electronic devices contain a number of hazardous elements, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and silver. Computer batteries also may contain nickel- cadmium, lithium, or sealed lead acid. These constituents are not a concern when the equipment is in use, but they can migrate if disposed in a landfill, potentially contaminating groundwater and soil.
What is Boulder County Doing?
- Electronics are no longer accepted for disposal at the Allenspark and Nederland Waste Transfer Stations & Recycling Drop-off Centers.
- Collection events for electronics will be provided to the Allenspark and Nederland communities.
- Resource Conservation Division held meetings with the companies in Boulder County who are engaged in managing electronic waste and the haulers who operate in Boulder County, so they are aware of and planning for the new disposal ban.
- Templates prepared by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have been modified for Boulder County and are available to the businesses and haulers for their use.