The New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act has driven the collection and recycling of more than 520 million pounds — or 260,000 tons — of electronic waste from 2011 to 2016, according to a release from the state’s Department of Environmental conservation.

The DEC’s second Electronic Waste Recycling Report documents e-waste recycling from 2013 to 2015, and outlines the strengths and challenges of the State’s e-waste recycling program.

The report builds on data in the first report and includes information on overall collection results, collection methods, recycling and reuse rates, stakeholder participation, fees and surcharges, as well as DEC’s compliance and enforcement efforts. The report also notes continued opportunities for business development, as a number of businesses have been launched or expanded as a result of the recycling and reuse of e-waste. The e-waste reports are available on DEC’s website.

From 2013 through 2015, electronic equipment manufacturers, consumers, and the state’s collection and recycling network successfully diverted nearly 300 million pounds of e-waste from landfills, which equates to a statewide collection rate averaging just over five pounds per capita.

The DEC continues its efforts to address challenges associated with e-waste collection and recycling, particularly Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions and monitors, by working with municipalities, industry representatives, recyclers, and others. In addition, while striving for overall stakeholder compliance, the DEC is working to improve manufacturers’ e-waste acceptance programs and continues public education and outreach, as well as enforcement, to ensure manufacturers are in compliance with the act’s requirements.

To help municipalities implement e-waste recycling over the short term, New York has made $3 million in grant funding from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund available to help municipalities across the state address the unintended costs associated with the collection and recycling of eligible e-waste. Applications for the third and final round of available grant money are due to DEC by Jan. 31, 2018, for expenses incurred between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. Information regarding grants for municipal e-waste assistance can be found on the DEC website.

The DEC is also developing draft regulations to clarify and strengthen provisions of the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act and will release them early next year.

The DEC reminds consumers that it is illegal to dispose of old, unwanted televisions and other electronic equipment in the trash. Examples of electronic equipment that must be recycled include computers, printers, monitors, televisions, and tablets. Manufacturers are required to provide consumers with free and convenient e-waste recycling opportunities. These opportunities include mail back, local collection events, permanent collection drop-off locations, and free at-home pickup, depending on the manufacturer’s program. For information on how and where to recycle your unwanted electronic waste and a complete list of covered electronic equipment, please visit the DEC website.