People who buy televisions from Chris Morris’ shop in Everett often talk about ditching their old sets on the side of the road.
Although most of them are joking, Morris said his customers seem turned off by the thought of having to pay to recycle their old TVs and computer monitors. Transfer stations and trash collectors charge extra to recycle e-waste because the electronics can leach hazardous chemicals, such as lead and mercury, if buried in a landfill.
“People are really peeved that they have to pay to dump them,” said Morris, owner of Miller TV. “A lot of people are saying the retailers should have to pay for that.”
Soon, that will be true.
Starting in January, Washington residents no longer will have to pay to recycle their old televisions, monitors, computers and laptops at transfer stations.
The change is part of a state law passed in 2006 that shifts the responsibility for recycling electronic waste to manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba and Panasonic.
At Snohomish County’s transfer stations, costs for recycling televisions and monitors range from $14 to $27. The cost for recycling a standard 27-inch television is $20.
Sam Chandler, director of the Snohomish County Public Works Department’s solid waste division, said his office averages one phone call every three minutes from someone asking how to get rid of their old equipment.
“That’s one of the biggest issues right now,” Chandler said. “That’s really replaced the more traditional recycling questions.”
Mill Creek City Councilwoman Donna Michelson can’t help with the cost, but she’s organizing a recycling event for May 17 at Mill Creek City Hall that will allow people to get rid of most household electronics.
Some of the costs participants will have to pay: $20 for televisions, $10 for monitors and $10 for laptop computers.
“There’s just not a good, legal way to get rid of them, except for taking them to recycling centers,” Michelson said. “A lot of people don’t want to do it, or they don’t know what to do.”
David Stitzhal, coordinator for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council, said he believes some people are stockpiling their old televisions and monitors to unload for free when January rolls around.
The electronic waste law is good for the environment because it will encourage people to take their old televisions to the dump, rather than simply dump them off, Stitzhal said.
“There’s no doubt that’s happening, no doubt that people are stuffing it in the garbage or illegally dumping it,” he said. “Once the free program is up and running, we’re going to see this stuff come out in droves.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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