KPLU Local News
(2010-01-28)
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SEATTLE
(KPLU) -
One year in, Washington's free electronics recycling program has been more of a hit than anyone expected.
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The program - called E-Cycle Washington -- collected more than
38.5 million of pounds of discarded TVs, computers and monitors in its first year. That's almost half again as much as was projected.
Miles Kuntz - with the state Department of Ecology - says he thinks some of that was pent-up demand from consumers who previously stashed their cast-off electronics rather than pay to recycle them. He also gives credit to Washington residents' famous recycling ethic.
Washington's e-waste law makes electronics manufacturers pay for collecting and properly recycling their old products. This year, it cost manufacturers about $10 million.
Washington was among the first states to put in place a take-back law for electronics. Now 20 states have similar laws.
Computers, TVs and monitors contain heavy metals and other toxic substances that can harm people and the environment if they're not properly recycled.
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