The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 21 PA Bulletin it has banned the sale of electronic products by Trexonic in Pennsylvania as a result of non-compliance with the electronic waste recycling law.  (PA Bulletin, page 6627)

Under state law, manufacturers of new covered devices-- such as televisions, laptop and desktop computers, tablets, etc.-- offered for sale in Pennsylvania are required to register with the Department prior to offering those devices for sale under Section 304 of the Covered Device Recycling Act.

Manufacturers must also pay an annual registration fee and submit a recycling plan and annual report.

Section 302 of the CDRA prohibits the sale of covered devices in the Commonwealth by unregistered manufacturers.

Electronics Waste Recycling Program Is Broken

Local governments, community groups and DEP have all concluded the electronic waste recycling program is broken and needs a major overhaul to work effectively.

Several legislative hearings have documented the fact the state’s electronic waste recycling program just isn’t working, and that hasn’t changed since a 2017 Senate hearing.  Read more here.

In December 2021, DEP, in consultation with the agency’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee, released a white paper of what those changes in law should be.  Read more here.

Click Here to read more about how the electronic waste recycling program can be fixed and recommendations on making the curbside recycling program more effective.

For more information on this program, visit DEP’s Electronics Waste Recycling webpage.  Questions about this action can be directed to Jordan Hoover, Bureau of Waste Management by email to: jorhoover@pa.gov or 717-783-8973.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

NewsClips - Waste:

-- Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Plastics Recycling Plant Proposed For Susquehanna River Shoreline

-- WPXI: Allegheny County Man Spends Hours In Kayak Cleaning Litter From Ohio River 

-- Centre Daily Times: How To Handle ‘Hard To Dispose Of’ Items Like Antifreeze, Paint And More

-- WTAE: Allegheny County Council Considering Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

-- Keep PA Beautiful Community News, Resources: Young Ambassadors; Open Your Eyes To Litter Student Book Series; Litter Hawk Youth Award Nominations Due Jan. 31

-- Spotlight PA: Potter County Township Wants To Make It Easier For Other Places In PA To Fight Oil/Gas Wastewater Injection Wells 

-- Inside Climate News: Answers About Old Conventional Gas Wells Repurposed As Injection Wells For Oil/Gas Wastewater May Never Be Fully Unearthed 

Related Articles - Waste:

-- Encina Fort Union LLC Withdraws Stormwater Permit Application For A Facility That Chemically Recycles Waste Plastics In Northumberland County After It Could Not Respond To Major Deficiencies In 4 Months  [PaEN]

-- DEP Bans Sale Of Trexonic Electronic Products For Not Complying With PA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law; E-Waste Recycling Law Broken  [PaEN] 

-- Dickinson College Farm Anaerobic Digester Project Wins National Recognition  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council, Partners Expand Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program To Pilot In Delaware County - Oct. 21-26 [PaEN]

-- PennDOT, Keep PA Beautiful Name 33 Students As The 2023-24 Young Ambassadors Promoting A Clean And Beautiful Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Keep PA Beautiful Welcomes Sarah DeSantis From DCNR As New Board Member

[Posted: October 20, 2023]

10/23/2023