Electronics Dropoff Alternatives

For those of you that, like me, had many electronics refused at the Dropoff today in South Orange, there are alternatives.

Staples and BestBuy will take most anything.

Lesson learned. I also think the program name should be modified.

I had a keyboard, Xbox 360 and battery backup (minus the battery) handed back to me.

Sir_Dave said:
For those of you that, like me, had many electronics refused at the Dropoff today in South Orange, there are alternatives.
Staples and BestBuy will take most anything.
Lesson learned. I also think the program name should be modified.
I had a keyboard, Xbox 360 and battery backup (minus the battery) handed back to me.

Hmm. Not sure why they would refuse those items. Did you ask them why those specific items were being refused? From the Village website:

Items Accepted for Drop Off: computers, monitors, printers, fax
machines, scanners, telecom equipment, speakers, televisions,
keyboards, VCRs, stereos, DVD players, toasters, and old cell phones.

Keyboard was plastic. The rest, the poor worker would hold the item up for some dude sitting in the back on his 'throne' and he would say yea or nay. A lot of unhappy folks trying to unload.

All electronics are plastic. The web site specifically says "keyboards". I haven't run into this before but it should definitely be brought to the attention of the Village Administrator.

There are also non-profits who pick up and sell to recycleries.

We also had telecoms and radios refused

There is a new state regulation that is now limiting their ability to accept many items. Almost makes the drop-off useless. There was an EPA approved document that was handed out this morning and lists what is acceptable and what is not. Most TVs, Monitors, computers, Printers, and cell phones are ok.

No plastic cased devices, video game consoles, small appliances, vaccums, microwaves, plastic or wooden speakers, keyboards, mice, tapes, car jump boxes, batteries, light bulbs, smoke detectors, refrigerants e.g. AC or de-humidifiers, mercury containing devices, medical waste, chemicals.

Jasmo said:
There is a new state regulation that is now limiting their ability to accept many items. Almost makes the drop-off useless. There was an EPA approved document that was handed out this morning and lists what is acceptable and what is not. Most TVs, Monitors, computers, Printers, and cell phones are ok.
No plastic cased devices, video game consoles, small appliances, vaccums, microwaves, plastic or wooden speakers, keyboards, mice, tapes, car jump boxes, batteries, light bulbs, smoke detectors, refrigerants e.g. AC or de-humidifiers, mercury containing devices, medical waste, chemicals.

If that is the case, then BOTH muncipalipies should say as much like as of yesterday. Ya think?

So now we just throw them out and let them get buried in a landfill somewhere?

Aren't computers, monitors, TVs cell phones etc enclosed in plastic?

Sounds like they're only recycling objects that would have large amts of valuable materials. If so the new regs are there to provide for recycler profits.

I couldn't believe the experience I witnessed at the DPW. Absolutely incredible. Reading the responses above I can see I'm not alone in my reaction. Thanks for confirming I'm not alone.

I just decided to save it all for the next container day. No issue with conservation and recycling, but when they make it borderline painful to participate, I'm out.

Jasmo said:
There is a new state regulation that is now limiting their ability to accept many items. Almost makes the drop-off useless. There was an EPA approved document that was handed out this morning and lists what is acceptable and what is not. Most TVs, Monitors, computers, Printers, and cell phones are ok.
No plastic cased devices, video game consoles, small appliances, vaccums, microwaves, plastic or wooden speakers, keyboards, mice, tapes, car jump boxes, batteries, light bulbs, smoke detectors, refrigerants e.g. AC or de-humidifiers, mercury containing devices, medical waste, chemicals.

Great. So now this stuff will all go in landfills instead.

That was exactly my first thought

Apollo_T said:
Aren't computers, monitors, TVs cell phones etc enclosed in plastic?
Sounds like they're only recycling objects that would have large amts of valuable materials. If so the new regs are there to provide for recycler profits.

Sir_Dave said:
For those of you that, like me, had many electronics refused at the Dropoff today in South Orange, there are alternatives.
Staples and BestBuy will take most anything.
Lesson learned. I also think the program name should be modified.
I had a keyboard, Xbox 360 and battery backup (minus the battery) handed back to me.

Yes, Staples will take up to six items a day. Granted this was over the last few months, but they took, without question and offering a receipt, at least two keyboards and one old XBox as well as a router and two truly dead laptops. They also accept recycling for plastic bags like those from Shoprite and the NYTimes. (The collection box is in the front near the exit in the Vauxhall store). I also drop off batteries at the same time. So, they take just about everything I would need to recycyle without having to wait on line, or make more than one stop. And this is available during stores hours, which being a big box store, are long.

And I always go in and buy something to make sure I show appreciate these services, but that's up to you.

Slight thread drift: I think that a local scout troop should offer to collect, sort and redistribute charging cords and plugs for all of our electronic items.

I must have 20 cords here that are perfectly useful but went to phones/cameras/ipods that we no longer use...

Of course, the devil is in the details. The "new rules" are actually 3 1/2 years old, and appear to be more about manufacturer obligations in complying with state law than about recycler profitability. Apparently it is the equipment manufacturers that pay for the program, but it only applies to manufacturers of computers and televisions, so they don't want to be paying for any of the other stuff. The rules are buried in this document, but to save you the trouble, I cut and pasted the relevant language.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/adoptions/adopt_120305a.pdf

SUBCHAPTER 13. ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

7:26A-13.1 Scope and authority
(a) This subchapter implements the Electronic Waste Management Act,
environmentally sound management of covered electronic devices and
components, including televisions, and establishes requirements for
manufacturers and retailers of these covered electronic devices. This
subchapter applies to manufacturers, retailers and consumers of covered
electronic devices, as well as to collectors, transporters and authorized
recyclers whose services are engaged under the manufacturers’ collection
plans.

“Covered electronic device” means a desktop or personal computer,
computer monitor, portable computer, or television sold to a consumer. A
covered electronic device does not include any of the following:
1. An electronic device that is a part of a motor vehicle or any
component part of a motor vehicle assembled by, or for, a vehicle
manufacturer or franchised dealer, including a replacement part for use
in a motor vehicle;
2. An electronic device that is functionally or physically a part of a
larger piece of equipment designed and intended for use in an industrial,
commercial, or medical setting, including diagnostic, monitoring, or
control equipment;
3. An electronic device that is contained within a clothes washer,
clothes dryer, refrigerator, refrigerator and freezer, microwave oven,
conventional oven or range, dishwasher, room air conditioner,
dehumidifier, or air purifier; or
4. A telephone of any type, unless it contains a video display area
greater than four inches measured diagonally.

For further reading, here is a copy of the Electronic Waste Management Act, from which these regulations are derived. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL08/130_.HTM

So it looks like this is something to be taken up with our state assembly reps if we want to change it.

Contact the Solid and Hazardous Waste Program
609-984-3438
ecycle@dep.state.nj.us