Have you ever bought something from a store and been charged an e-waste fee and wondered what it was for? California has a regulation that imposes a fee on the purchase of new or refurbished covered electronic devices (CEDs). A covered electronic device is a video display device that has a screen greater than 4 inches, measured diagonally, which is identified as a CED by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act is a program for consumers to return, recycle, and ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of video display devices, such as televisions and computer monitors, that are hazardous waste when discarded. The purchaser of a CED pays a fee at the time of purchase, which is used to pay collectors and recyclers of CEDs that are no longer wanted.
Items considered CEDs are:
1. Cathode ray tube containing devices (CRT devices)
2. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
3. Computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes
4. Laptop computers with liquid crystal display (LCD)
5. LCD containing desktop monitors
6. Televisions containing cathode ray tubes
7. Televisions containing liquid crystal display (LCD) screens
8. Plasma televisions
9. Portable DVD players with LCD screens
Are you planning on purchasing any iPads or Kindles? You may be subject to this fee. DTSC has determined that the Kindle Fire and iPad are CEDs and subject to the fee. However, the Amazon Kindle, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, and Kindle Touch are not subject to the fee as they are not video display devices capable of displaying moving graphical images and do not contain LCD displays.
Effective January 1, 2013, the new fees are as follows:
Screen Size – Measured Diagonally:
- More than 4 inches, less than 15 inches: $3.00 fee
- 15 inches but less than 35 inches: $4.00 fee
- 35 inches or more: $5.00 fee
For further information regarding the eWaste Fee, see our website at www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog.electronic_waste_recycling_fee.htm#.
