Mandatory Handset Recycling For US County

The government of Westchester County in New York State, USA is passing legislation which will make it illegal to dispose of cell phones in the conventional rubbish supplies. When passed, the legislation will effectively force residents to recycle their unwanted mobile phones, or face a fine for each handset found in the rubbish. County Executive Andrew Spano is due to sign the bill shortly, said chief adviser Susan Tolchin, and it will go into effect 90 days later.

It is estimated that more than 50,000 cell phones are retired each month in Westchester County and because of their size, most can easily make it to the waste stream. Penalties start with a warning after the first offense, $150 for a second offense and $250 for a third.

Westchester County is not the first community to prohibit residents from discarding cell phones in household trash. In early February a new law went into effect in the State of California. Residents of the state cannot put hazardous waste items in their everyday garbage. Instead, hazardous waste items, including cell phones, must be recycled.

These bans could actually turn out to be an opportunity for residents to make some extra money. "What people may not realize is that their old cell phones may have significant cash value - anywhere from a few dollars to well over $100 per phone," said James Mosieur, CEO of RMS Communications Group which operates a handset recycling program."

Posted to the site on 10th March 2006