At the start of the new year, four more states have banned dumping electronic waste in some form.
The total number of states with such laws is now 24 and includes Indiana.
In Indiana, residents and businesses aren't allowed to leave electronics for curbside pickup.
And according to Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management Director Sue Studebaker, with more states on board, the cost to get rid of electronics locally has dropped.
In 2010, the county's solid waste district reached an agreement with a firm that would drop the rate locally to 8 cents per pound to recycle things like TVs, computers and printers.
Studebaker said the only reason the cost is 8 cents to the customer is to cover for the cost of processing the electronics.
She also said that cost was able to drop because more states are getting on board when it comes to the disposal of electronic waste.
Studebaker said anymore than 250 pounds of electronic waste is considered hazardous waste and whoever is picking up your trash won't want to deal with that.
And forget trying to sneak your electronic waste into a dump.
"Dumps know what is coming in," said Studebaker. "If you've ever seen the process then you know that."
Studebaker said she has been asked how the new laws around the country affect Indiana as well as if Indiana had such laws on the books.
She also said she was surprised that in the coverage of the new laws, the option of solid waste districts wasn't given.
Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina added new laws to their books Jan. 1.
In July 2009, the Indiana Legislature enacted the Indiana Electronic Waste Program.
The purpose of the program was to reduce the amount of electronic waste being sent to Indiana landfills and insure that hazardous substances found in electronic waste were being managed in an appropriate and environmentally responsible manner.
As part of the program, manufacturers of computer monitors, laptops, and televisions are responsible for collecting and recycling 60 percent by weight of the computers monitors, laptops, and televisions they manufacturer and sell to Indiana homes.
But while Indiana was ahead of the curve as compared to some states, the program lacks teeth as no punishment for illegally dumping electronics is on the books.
While solid waste districts may not get enough coverage, they are an effective way to recycle.
"It's local and it's cheap," said Studebaker.
Despite that, Studebaker said things have been busy at the depot since Christmas.
"People must have got a lot of TVs for Christmas because we're seeing a lot older ones come in," said Studebaker.
To drop off used electronics or other items, the recycling depot is located at 220 S. Union St. in Warsaw.
Studebaker said people should enter through the south part of the building where they can unload their items, get them weighed and pay.
Businesses have the option of being billed.
The recycling depot is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays and selected Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call during business hours at 574-372-3087.
