After July 1, MUA Won’t Accept Old Computers, Monitors, TVs

SWAINTON – Beginning July 1, the county Municipal Utilities Authority will no longer accept consumer electronics for recycling, leaving municipalities to come up with new methods of collecting and disposing of televisions and computers.
The Authority Consumer Electronics Recycling Program has operated since 2001, giving municipalities, government agencies, schools, and non-profit organizations a place to properly dispose of electronics. In 2009 the Electronic Waste Management Act was signed into law and went into effect Jan. 1, 2011. The law prohibits landfill disposal of televisions and computers (laptops, notebooks and monitors), and instead puts the responsibility of collection on the electronics manufacturers.
“But that has not happened,” said Solid Waste Program Manager John Baron, during the regular meeting Feb. 5. “The manufacturers are balking at that.”
Baron explained that, in accordance with the act, manufacturers had contracts with electronics recyclers and were funding the costs associated with the collection, transportation, and recycling of electronics. Near the end of 2012, electronic recyclers received termination notices from the manufacturers, which forced the electronic recyclers to reduce the amount of used consumer electronics they were collecting.
The authority’s recycling vendor, Simms, gave notice of cancellation on Jan. 7, 2013 due to difficulties in offsetting processing costs. The authority received a number of proposals from other vendors to resume electronic recycling duties, but Magnum, Thanks for Being Green was the only vendor that proposed no charge to the authority for televisions while committing to pay the Authority for computers collected.
Magnum began collecting electronics in February 2013 and set up electronic recycling containers in Lower Township, Middle Township, Ocean City and the MUA Transfer Station and landfill sites.
On Dec. 20, 2013, Magnum suspended service to the MUA, citing a lack of rebates for CRT glass. “We cannot cover our costs of labor, transportation and packing material without support from the glass processors and the original electronics manufacturers,” read Magnum’s notice.
“It isn’t their fault,” said Baron. “The cost of doing the recycling is costing them huge amounts of money. It really boils down to the manufacturers that are supposed to be paying for the program, aren’t paying for the program.”
Punishment to manufacturers for not complying with the program include fines of up to $1,000 and the prohibiting of the sale of electronics in the state.
“How are they going to enforce that?” asked Chairman George Betts. “Are they going to shut down the Internet?”
While the authority continues to explore solutions to this statewide problem, electronics continue to accumulate at the Transfer Station and Landfill and in municipalities’ collection containers. If the Authority continues with the collection program the way it is, they will face $50,000 to $75,000 in unbudgeted expenses.
Baron proposed that the authority “bite the bullet” and continue to collect electronics from the municipalities until July 1 so that the municipalities would have time to notify residents. If the authority chooses to do this, it would cost between $30,000 and $35,000.
“You really need a legislative solution at this point in time,” said Authority Solicitor Howard Long. “Somebody’s got to step up and recognize that this is an issue.
“The only last place you can shift (the burden) to is the consumer,” said Executive Director Charles Norkis. “And I think, ultimately, unless the state steps up, the consumer is going to have to, when they buy a new TV, take the old TV back.”
Commissioner Carol Saduk said if people don’t have a place to recycle their old televisions, they will end up dumping them in the woods.
To help come to some type of resolution, Baron said the municipalities need to contact their legislators to help enforce or change the laws.
To contact Kirby Reed, email kreed@cmcherald.com.