Monday, January 3, 2011

“Indiana ban on electronics in trash takes effect”

“Indiana ban on electronics in trash takes effect”

Indiana ban on electronics in trash takes effect

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 02:02 PM PST

> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Environmentalists have long said not to throw electronics in the trash. Now, Indiana Code says it, too.

A new state law that went into effect Saturday prohibits households, public schools and small businesses from mixing electronics with municipal waste intended for disposal at a landfill by incineration.

The banned electronics devices include computer monitors, computers, televisions, printers, DVD players, video cassette recorders, fax machines and computer peripherals such as keyboards and mice.

"They contain all kinds of chemicals you don't want to be around. If a computer monitor breaks, it can leak mercury or other chemicals," Clark County Solid Waste Management District Luke Etheridge said. "It's the same thing when those are in a landfill. It can be bad for the environment."

According to the Indiana Department of Emergency Management, various electronic items can contain hazardous materials, such as hexavalent chromium, mercury and lead. Circuit boards, batteries and color cathode ray tubes are common electronic parts that can be harmful when released into the environment.

Cities and towns across Indiana are handling the new law in a variety of ways.

Jeffersonville Streets and Sanitation Commissioner David Hosea asked that residents leave electronics beside the trash separate from the rest of the garbage, and they will take those items to be recycled.

"I think it's good for the environment. I'm all for it. We just have to pay a little more attention to the trash when we dump it," Hosea said.

Gary Adamson, a foreman for the Clarksville Street Department, said any electronic items will be removed from the trash and left on the curb. He said they will take the rest of the garbage, but residents will be responsible for disposing of electronics.

Matt Denison, president of the New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety, said residents there must take their electronic items to one of a number of recycling locations in Floyd County.

There is no penalty for violating the law, and Hosea said they are waiting to see if any changes will be made to the law. For now, it will be up to the garbage collectors to notice any electronics left in the trash.

"It's a little more work, but that's a service we have to do, so we'll do it," Hosea said.

Etheridge said Clark County residents can drop off electronic items at the Solid Waste Management District at 9208 Ind. 62 in Charlestown. The site is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost was reduced this year to a flat $5 per item.

Goodwill BridgePointe also has a free electronics and recycling program. All 11 Southern Indiana stores will accept donations of electronics and computer equipment, working or nonworking, according to a statement released by Goodwill. More information about that service and Goodwill store locations are available at

www.goodwillbps.org.

Staples and Best Buy on Veterans Parkway in Clarksville and Office Depot stores on East Lewis & Clark Parkway in Clarksville and the New Albany Plaza are also e-waste collectors.

To find a nearby electronic-waste recycling center or learn more about the new law or recycling tips, go to www.recycle.in.gov

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.
Posted by at

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)