|
Minn. takes electronics out of the garbage
(UPI Quirks in the News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Old computers, television sets, monitors, scanners, printers, VCRs, DVD players, cell phones and radios are no longer welcome in Minnesota landfills.
Beginning Saturday, it will be against the law to throw away electronic junk that contains lead, cadmium and other hazardous waste. Electronics will have to be recycled to keep rivers, lakes and streams free of toxic substances.
Minnesotans own an estimated 6 million televisions and 3 million computer monitors, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
And U.S. residents discard about 125 million cell phones annually.
Electronic junk has long been separated from garbage in some communities that schedule special recycling pickups once or twice a year -- and some manufacturers like Apple Computer, Dell and Canon have their own recycling programs.
Apple takes old electronics for free recycling if you buy a new computer or iPod.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|