New Recycling Law to Help Pennsylvania Become ‘Greener’
By: Allison Robinson, Ph.D., Marilyn Pfaff and Stephanie Stanley
Beginning this month, you can no longer put that old TV or computer out on the curb with the rest of your trash. Pennsylvania’s Covered Device Recycling Act goes into effect and requires the proper recycling of all TVs and computer equipment, including items such as computer monitors, central processing units, laptops, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, speakers and any other devices that connect to a computer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 40 percent of lead and 70 percent of other toxics found in landfills, including mercury and cadmium, are from electronics. Even small amounts of these toxics can be dangerous if released into the air, water and soil. These metals and associated materials can have both localized and systemic adverse health effects, especially to children and other vulnerable populations. Exposure prevention reduces the health burden.
Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials. Electronic waste recycling protects our health and environment by keeping these substances out of our landfills and incinerators.
