[DRAFT]

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Bans the Disposal of Televisions and
Computer
Monitors in the Trash Staring July 1, 2006

By Abdul H. Khalid PhD, Chemical Engineer

Recently, the Minnesota Pollution Agency announced that Minnesota
residents would not be able to put their television sets and computer
monitors in the trash cans. It is a state law and takes effect starting
from July 1, 2006. Televisions and computer monitors when discarded
becomes hazardous waste because they contain eight pounds of lead
approximately, and may cause an environmental problem if discarded in
trash cans. Waste electronic and electrical products from households
should be managed in an environmentally responsible manner, even in
small quantities.

CRTs (cathode-ray tubes) containing devices are to be recycled by the
businesses and households. Residents have the recycling options for old
electronic equipment including community collection events, retailers,
and manufacturers. Recyclers may charge a small fee to handle monitors
and televisions. Minnesota residents have access to a list of
collection events and recyclers and can access state web site at:
http://www.moea.state.mn.us/plugin/recyclers-household.cfm or
http://www.greenguardian.com/

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is working to control the number
of televisions and computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes
(CRTs). The agency will soon be able to regulate and manage, and
enforce the ban on trashing the discarded televisions and computer monitors.

The agency bans the disposal of televisions and computer monitors in
trash because consumers are switching to plasma and liquid crystal
display (LCD) televisions. The move to digital television in a few
years may prompt additional disposal of CRTs and TVs. Plasma and LCD
televisions have no lead but price are high. It is expected that
manufacturers may lower the prices in the future.

For further information on manufacturer recycling program, visit this
web site at:
http://www.moea.state.mn.us/plugin/recyclers-household.cfm#manufacturer


Reference: Recycling options for unwanted consumer electronics,
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance at:
http://www.moea.state.mn.us/plugin/recyclers-household.cfm
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END Forwarded by Andrew Cutz, CIH (Wednesday, June 14, 2006)