To the Editor,

Electronic Waste, or e-waste, is a growing problem in New Jersey. The State’s Electronic Waste Management Act, enacted in 2010, mandates that manufacturers of electronics recycle a determined amount each year but the legislation has not kept up with the increased volume of e-waste being produced. As a result, municipalities are facing either paying for recycling or stopping collection as has happened recently in Burlington County. Additionally, many free e-waste collections by retailers have shut down or are charging a fee for items, some rather steep, and are not accepting equipment over a certain size.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly have drafted bills A-2375 and S-981 to fix some of the provisions in the law; however, it is not clear if the provisions will be adopted into the Act. In the meantime, we hope that residents’ recycled computers, televisions, monitors, laptops and other electronics at Princeton’s annual S.H.R.E.D.D.temberfest event last weekend. If you were unable to make that event, the Mercer County Improvement Authority has two remaining electronic recycling events in 2017 on Saturday, October 1 and Saturday, November 19. The Municipality of Princeton’s Convenience Center on River Road is another resource for recycling most e-waste. It is very important to recycle these materials properly because they contain mercury, cadmium, lead and other materials that are toxic in small amounts.

Remember, the best way to reduce waste is to not produce it in the first place. Please consider the impact to the environment and the costs of disposal when making a decision to purchase electronics.

Heidi Fichtenbaum

Board Member of Sustainable Princeton and Chair, Princeton Environmental Commission

Sophie Glovier

Vice Chair, Princeton Environmental Commission

Christine Symington

Energy Director, Sustainable Princeton