trash talk

Shannon Thompson

Legislation was signed into law in Minnesota in May 2007 that targets collection and recycling of covered electronic devices or CEDs. CEDs are defined by the law as “computers, including tablet computers and laptop computers, peripherals, facsimile machines, DVD players, video cassette recorders, and video display devices that are sold to a household by means of retail, wholesale, or electronic commerce.” The law also bans TVs and computer monitors from Minnesota landfills no matter the source of the waste.

CEDs exclude anything collected from sources other than Minnesota household (e.g., commercial/industrial/institutional, out of state), appliances, cell phones/PDAs, stereo/audio equipment, household/small electrics (i.e., toasters, vacuum cleaners), electronic media (i.e., CD-ROMs, diskettes, cassettes, backup tapes), toner/ink cartridges collected separately (e.g., not as part of a printer or fax machine collected for recycling).  

 The reason commercial, industrial, institutional and out of state items are excluded from the 2007 statute is because it sets up a product stewardship program for CEDs. Manufacturers of video display devices register with the state each year and pay a fee. This fee helps pay for the collection and recycling of CEDs sold in Minnesota. The state hopes to encourage manufacturers to design longer lasting, less toxic, more recyclable products by requiring that they help pay for disposal of the products they manufacture.

The Clay County electronics recycling program only accepts CEDs. Other electronic waste must be recycled by contracting with a Minnesota registered recycler. Contact Shannon at Clay County Solid Waste for more information if you have excluded electronic material to recycle.

The large volume, toxicity, and recycling value of CEDs make them a good candidate for stewardship legislation. Electronics are often designed for obsolescence making their replacement a continuous cycle. Lead is used in computers and cathode-ray tubes (tube TV and monitor screens). A single cathode-ray tube can contain up to 8 pounds of lead. The glass, plastic, and metal used in electronics have recycling value. The 2007 legislation is working to keep lead out of the environment and increase the recycling of electronics.

Recycling CEDs is good. Redesigning them to be less toxic and more recyclable is also good. Manufacturing fewer CEDs is better. You can do your part by using products as long as possible. Reusing old products by purchasing used or donating your old CEDs to others who are in need of them are great ways to reduce the demand for new production.

You can always contact me at Clay County Solid Waste, shannon.thompson@co.clay.mn.us or 218 299-7329 with any recycling or waste disposal questions.