Colorado E-Waste Landfill Ban Bill Becomes Law

Colorado’s governor has signed into law the state’s electronic waste landfill ban bill.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the bill, according to the office’s website. The e-waste ban includes computers, printers, televisions, digital video disc players and video cassette recorders, according to the state general assembly’s website. It will take effect July 1, 2013.

The law, Senate Bill 133, will require state agencies to arrange for the recycling of e-waste products with a certified recycler.

Counties that don’t have at least two e-waste recycling events per year or an ongoinge-waste recycling program could vote to be exempt from the ban.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-5).

Colorado residents discard between 40,000 and 161,000 tons of e-waste and recycle about 8,000 tons annually, the Colorado Conservation Voters reports. The group said the law could expand the recycling industry in the state and create 2,500 new jobs.