Putting devices with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in mixed municipal solid waste is prohibited in Minnesota. After its initial CRT disposal ban in 2006, the state enacted recycling requirements for video display devices (VDDs) in 2007. Each year, VDD manufacturers must:
- register with the state and, if they sell 100 or more VDDs in Minnesota, pay a registration fee.
- support collection and recycling of covered electronic devices (CED) from households/consumers in Minnesota.
- report on how they met their recycling obligation.
VDD retailers can sell only brands registered in Minnesota to households in the state — including through online and catalog sales — and must provide recycling information to their customers.
VDD and CED
Video display devices and covered electronics devices are precisely defined in the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act.
To be considered video display devices, the products must:
- be marketed to households in Minnesota.
- include televisions (TV and TV-DVD/VCR combinations, home security displays, and CCTV systems) and computer monitors.
- not be refurbished, recertified, open box, or used products.
Covered electronic devices are consumer electronics that can be collected, recycled, and sold to meet a manufacturer's recycling obligation. They must be:
- from households in Minnesota.
- collected and recycled by stakeholders registered with the MPCA in the relevant program year.
- any brand of video display device, computer, laptop, tablet, and peripherals (including keyboards, printers, or other devices used with a computer), fax machines, DVD players, and VCRs.
The law also defines what is not considered CED:
- cell phones/PDAs
- transport packaging (pallets, boxes/gaylords)
- appliances and household small electrics
- stereo/audio equipment and electronic media (i.e., CD-ROMs, diskettes, cassettes, backup tapes)
- toner/ink cartridges collected separately from printers or fax machines
CED collected in a program year (July 1 to June 30) must be recycled and the pounds sold to a manufacturer within the program year. The MPCA issued updated guidance on the requirements in 2021:
Collection weight by area
The weight of electronics collected from households outside the 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties) is calculated at 1.5 times the actual weight in meeting manufacturer recycling obligation.
Program impact
VDD manufacturers supported the collection and recycling of more than 20 million pounds of electronics in Minnesota in 2020 alone — more than three pounds per person!
- Program updates and accomplishments are included in the Toxics and Pollution Prevention Evaluation Report.