New York’s Second E-Waste Program Showing Success
http://americanrecycler.com
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos shared that the New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act has driven the collection and recycling of more than 520 million pounds or 260,000 tons of electronic waste from 2011 to 2016. Commissioner Seggos said, “Over the first six years of the program, New York State has successfully diverted hundreds of millions of pounds of e-waste destined for landfills and combustion facilities to e-waste recyclers for reuse and recycling, helping conserve valuable natural resources. The e-waste report will help DEC improve New York’s strong e-waste recycling program, and the documented progress of this comprehensive product stewardship program is yet another example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to protecting our environment.”
The e-waste recycling report for 2013 to 2015 builds on data in the first report and includes information on overall collection results, collection methods, recycling and reuse rates, stakeholder participation, fees and surcharges, as well as DEC’s compliance and enforcement efforts. The report also notes continued opportunities for business development, as a number of businesses have been launched or expanded as a result of the recycling/reuse of e-waste. The e-waste reports are available on DEC’s website.
From 2013 through 2015, electronic equipment manufacturers, consumers, and the state’s collection and recycling network successfully diverted nearly 300 million pounds of e-waste from the waste stream.
DEC continues its efforts to address challenges associated with e-waste collection and recycling, particularly Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions and monitors by working with municipalities, industry representatives, recyclers, and others to improve CRT collection and recycling. In addition, while striving for overall stakeholder compliance, DEC is working to improve manufacturers’ e-waste acceptance programs and continues public education and outreach, as well as enforcement, to ensure manufacturers are in compliance with the act’s requirements.
To help municipalities implement e-waste recycling over the short term, New York has made $3 million in grant funding from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund available to help municipalities across the state address the unintended costs associated with the collection and recycling of eligible e-waste. DEC is distributing nearly $1.2 million in grant funding to municipalities from the first two rounds of grant applications. Applications for the third and final round of available grant money were due to DEC by January 31, 2018, for expenses incurred between April 1 and December 31, 2017. Information regarding grants for municipal e-waste assistance can be found on the DEC website.
*This content was generated by http://americanrecycler.com. To read the original article or for more information go to http://americanrecycler.com/8568759/index.php/news/electronics-recycling/2878-new-york-s-second-e-waste-program-showing-success