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Electronics Must Be Recycled Effective Jan. 1, 2015 Under NYS Law

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- As the dawn of 2015 arrives, New York state residents are reminded that new rules will be enacted for the disposing of electronics.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, obsolete cellphones, computers and other electronics may not be thrown in the garbage with the common refuse effective Thursday, Jan. 1.

In 2015, New York State Law will require recycling of virtually all home and personal electronics.

The list includes of items that must be recycled includes:

• TVs;
• Monitors;
• Computers;
• VCRs, DVRs and DVD players;
• Satellite boxes;
• Laptops;
• Small servers;
• Printers and scanners;
• Fax machines;
• Computer keyboards;
• Tablets and e-readers;
• Mobile phones;
• MP3 players;
• Computer mice;
• Hard drives.

Required recycling has already been the law in some cities, including White Plains.

"We get so much e-waste that we fill two (roll-off dumpsters) a week; eight a month," said White Plains Department of Public Works Commissioner Bud Nicoletti.

And they say one man's trash is another man's treasure - and that's particularly true with e-waste. Disassembling electronic waste, and recycling the plastic and metal components, is now a very big business

"It's funny - because even some of these have gold contacts - so there are a lot of valuable metals deep inside the components that can certainly be recycled, and certainly have value in making new ones," Nicoletti said.

Recycling also keeps toxic materials out of the environment.

"You have heavy metals and things like that, and when you incinerate that, that's certainly not the way to go," Nicoletti said.

In New York City, some apartment buildings already have e-cycling stations, where residents can drop off unwanted electronics.

Major retailers such as Staples and Best Buy are also drop-off points.

The fine for improper disposal of electronic devices starts at $100 per incident.

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