GLRrecyclingnews

Success Of Free E-Recycling Could Lead To Fees

According to Hickle, the state passed a law in 2007 requiring electronics manufacturers to pay for electronics recycling. In the first year, they had to pay the recycling costs of 60 percent of what they sold. In the second year, it was 80 percent. (File) CBS

Until this month, most Minnesotans could take used TVs and computers to get recycled free. But that has changed in some counties across the state, partly because the program was so popular.

"It's like we were a victim of our own success," said Garth Hickle, with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

According to Hickle, the state passed a law in 2007 requiring electronics manufacturers to pay for electronics recycling. In the first year, they had to pay the recycling costs of 60 percent of what they sold. In the second year, it was 80 percent.

Through city and county programs, private recyclers and retailers, Minnesotans recycled 34 million pounds of e-waste last year -- 9 million pounds more than were sold in the state.

That meant many of the manufacturers maxed out on what they had to pay and dried up a funding source for recyclers. That forced some recyclers to start charging for a service that used to be free.

Dakota County started charging 35 cents per pound for electronics on Jan. 1.

"We had a choice. We could stop collecting or we could charge a fee and we really wanted to provide that kind of service for the residents of Dakota County," said Lori Frekot, a spokeswoman for Dakota County.

Since they've started charging, Dakota County has actually seen more people come in to recycle their electronics. Frekot believes when the county's communication office got the word out about the fees, more people realized they could recycle.

Gopher Resource Corporation's Mark Andren runs the site for Dakota County. He said of the hundreds who've come in, he's only had one complaint.

"They're seeing it as OK, we're lucky. We'll be able to get the first amount for free and now we have the second amount, that's OK. We need to be happy for what we have," he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Cindy Deters brought an old computer, a monitor and several wires to the Dakota County site. She ended up paying $48.38 and considered it part of the cost of owning a computer.

"It's the right thing to do, get it out of the landfills, get it in the right places," she said.

The MPCA doesn't keep track of how many counties or cities have started to charge. However, in a survey of some metro counties, only Goodhue said they would be charging too. Waste Management, a private recycler, also said they've started to charge to recycle electronics.

The Hennepin and Washington counties' programs will stay free for now. Hennepin County has a separate source of funding beyond the manufacturers for its program.

Ramsey and Anoka counties do not have county programs and refer their residents to Rethink Recycling.

Best Buy will also take computers and televisions smaller than 32 inches. It costs $10, but they'll give you a $10 gift card in exchange.

Next week, Anoka County recycler, Green Lights Recycling, will hold a sponsor a free e-waste recycling event. They will collect computers, televisions, VCRs and other electronics at their Blaine site from Monday, Jan. 12 through Friday, Jan. 16. It will run from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"There are fewer free options than there used to be but there are still options," said Hickle.

Hickle hopes the situation will be brighter for consumers later this year. He said manufacturers may have to start paying recycling costs again when the new fiscal year starts in July '09.