Maryland Adopts Computer-Recycling Fee

"There was an opportunity to do much more," said Brad Heavner, director of Maryland Public Interest Research Group, who questions whether this program will raise enough money to make a difference. "But at least we're moving forward with something."

Under Maryland's law, a manufacturer who produced more than 1,000 computers on average each year since 2002 must register with the state and pay an initial fee of $5,000 by Jan. 1.

In subsequent years, manufacturers can pay a reduced fee of $500 if they have a "takeback" program that allows consumers to return computers for recycling or refurbishing at no cost.

The "no cost" part creates issues for firms such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM, which take back computers if consumers pay for shipping.

Computer makers can choose to recycle the products themselves, hire a firm to do it for them, or simply pay the requisite $5,000.

But the state does not know how much money it will raise because it has yet to figure out how many companies the program covers. Officials acknowledge that their initial estimate of $400,000, however, was probably off target.

"We've heard anywhere from 40 to 200" might qualify, said Hilary Miller, head of the recycling and operations program at the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Miller said she's compiling a list of potential candidates by conferring with regulators in Maine and perusing newspaper advertisements. "But I'm not positive how many of them manufacture computers or monitors," she said. "And for those that do, the burden is with them to register with us."

Mark Sharp, group manager of the environmental department at Panasonic Corp. of North America, said he doubts the state will raise enough money to cover its costs.

"It's an imperfect approach," Sharp said. "They will not collect that much money. They would get more if they opted for a fee at retail. . . . It's not a long-term solution."

Panasonic, which makes laptops sold mostly to government and law enforcement, does not have a takeback program and must decide how it wants to proceed in Maryland, Sharp said.

Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D-Baltimore County), who introduced the legislation, said getting a plan that all the stakeholders would embrace was like squeezing a water balloon. "Where you squeezed, it bulged out somewhere else," he said.

The goal was to get a program up and running.

"The alternative is to do nothing," Morhaim said. "It's a first step in the right direction, and we'll continue to refine it."