Disposal Regulations
For information about disposing of electronic waste in the trash, contact you local solid waste agency, or state environmental protection office. Some types of electronic waste may be hazardous waste, and improper disposal may violate local or state laws.
Federal Regulations
This section contains documents from the U.S. EPA on the regulation of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and circuit boards.
EPA eCycling - Regulations/Standards CRTs
EPA Final Rules on CRTs and Discarded Mercury - Containing Equipment
State Regulations
State hazardous waste rules may affect the way in which waste electronics are managed. For example, a specific Wisconsin regulation affects cathode ray tubes (CRTs), which are video display units (e.g. monitors, televisions, etc.) containing leaded glass. In order to support the development of recycling options, Wisconsin conditionally exempts CRTs that are properly recycled from hazardous waste regulations (Wisconsin Administrative Code - Chapters NR 660-679). Wisconsin DNR's Best Management Practices for Electronics Waste Recycling describes the relevant regulations.
Wisconsin conditional CRT Exemptions
Wisconsin Best Management Practices
In some states, businesses are subject to different (typically more stringent) laws than those
governing individuals.
Illinois: Electronics are managed per the state’s solid waste regulations
Indiana: http://www.in.gov/recycle/topics/ewaste/recycling.html
Michigan: Businesses, Schools, Agencies, Institutions and Other Regulated Generators of Electronic Waste http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130_18096-148778--,00.html
Minnesota: Managing Electronic Wastes From Business Sources: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/w-hw4-15.pdf
New York: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/hzwstman/electron.htm
Ohio: Scroll down to ‘Regulatory Considerations for Disposing of Computers and Monitors’ http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/p2/recyc/comp-rc.html
Pennsylvania: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/landrecwaste/cwp/view.asp?a=1242&Q=464383
Wisconsin: Managing Used Computers A Guide for Environmentally Sound Disposal http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/publications/anewpub/wa420.pdf