California approves emergency e-scrap regulations

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved emergency regulations proposed by California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) maintaining the current covered e-scrap recycling fee. The emergency regulations will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, and remain in effect for two years or until revised by the department.

The current rates are as follows:

• $4 for each covered electronic device (CED) with a screen size of less than 15 inches measured diagonally.
• $5 for each CED with a screen size greater than or equal to 15 inches but less than 35 inches measured diagonally.
• $6 for each CED with a screen size greater than or equal to 35 inches measured diagonally.

The Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program was established with the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 to provide funding for proper end-of-life management of certain video display devices. Consumers of CEDs pay a recycling fee at the time of retail purchase, which funds the program. CalRecycle says it can assess the adequacy of the covered e-scrap recycling fee no more than once a year to determine whether the program is generating sufficient revenue.

According to CalRecycle, maintaining the current fee levels will ensure collectors and recyclers are able to continue providing consumers with opportunities to recycle CEDs, which reduces the amount of e-scrap sent to landfills. The organization says the objective of the regulations is to maintain the fee to ensure program funding, while not overcharging consumers.

The approval comes after a five-day written public comment period initiated by CalRecycle in September.