A New Electronics Recycling Law in Pennsylvania As of Jan. 24,
consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania will no longer be
allowed to throw away any electronic devices with their trash.
The Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA), passed in
2010, requires that consumers and businesses not dispose of
electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, computer
monitors, televisions, and tablets with their trash. This means
that trash haulers will no longer take covered devices unless
the municipality has a curbside electronics collection program
that sends the devices to an electronics recycler. “This law is
an important step toward further reducing the amount of waste
disposed in our landfills,” said Mike Krancer, DEP secretary.
“There will be a host of positive impacts from this law, such as
deriving economic benefits from precious metals found in
electronics, eliminating heavy metals in the environment and
encouraging environmental stewardship.” Under CDRA, covered
devices and their components must be p