Oregon E-Cycles, established by Oregon's Electronics Recycling Law (Oregon Revised Statute 459A.300-.365), is a statewide program that requires electronics manufacturers to provide responsible recycling for computers, monitors, TVs, printers and computer peripherals (keyboard and mice). The program is an example of product stewardship. Product stewardship directs everyone involved in the life cycle of a product to take shared responsibility for the impacts to our health and environment that result from the production, use, and end-of-life management of the product.
Oregon E-Cycles provides free recycling of devices covered by the law to anyone bringing seven or fewer devices to a participating collection site at one time. However, collection sites may accept more than seven devices from households, small businesses and small 501(c)(3) nonprofits with 10 or fewer employees. Please call the collection site nearest you to ask about bringing more devices.
As of Jan. 1, 2010, all computers, monitors and TVs are banned from disposal in Oregon.
In addition to providing free responsible recycling, the law outlines further requirements for manufacturers and retailers.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers must label their computers, monitors, TVs and printers with a visible, permanently affixed brand, and register those brands with DEQ. All manufacturers are required to pay a registration fee, which covers DEQ's administrative costs to implement Oregon E-Cycles.
Manufacturers must also participate in a recycling program. Manufacturers choose to either pay a recycling fee to participate in the DEQ-administered State Contractor Program or, if they meet certain requirements, to implement and pay for their own statewide program.
Collectively these programs comprise “Oregon E-Cycles" – a network of responsible collection sites and services and recycling facilities throughout Oregon. All recycling programs must establish, at a minimum, a collection site in every city with a population of 10,000 or greater and a collection service in every county.
Recycling programs may choose to provide additional “premium services" to customers. Premium services are services that are offered by participating recycling programs under Oregon E-Cycles in addition to the standard collection sites and services. Examples of “premium services" could include mail back or pick-up services. There may be a fee associated with these premium services.
Manufacturers who fail to comply with these requirements will not be permitted to sell their products in or into Oregon. The law provides DEQ with the authority to enforce these requirements should manufacturers fail to comply.
Retailers
Retailers are required to provide customers who buy new computers, monitors, TVs or printers with printed information about Oregon E-Cycles at the point-of-sale.
Retailers must also ensure that the brands they sell are listed on DEQ's manufacturer compliance list as “pending" or “compliant" and the products are affixed with a permanent and visible brand label.
If a brand is not listed, it may not be sold in or into Oregon. Sales restrictions apply only to brands of computers, monitors, TVs and printers, and not to other electronics or products a manufacturer may make. These requirements apply to all sales methods, including retail, catalog, phone and Internet sales. Sales of reused or refurbished products are exempt from these requirements.
DEQ will ensure that retailers are providing point-of-sale information to customers and only selling registered brands. The law provides DEQ with the authority to enforce these requirements should retailers fail to comply.