E-waste legislation in the US: An analysis of the disparate design and resulting influence on collection rates across States

Electronic waste management in the US has been characterized as 'inconsistent', 'disparate', and a 'patchwork'. While there is currently no federal leadership on the regulation of e-waste, 25 states have some form of legislation aimed at promoting e-waste recycling and/or prohibiting disposal in landfills and incinerators. But each state legislation differs from the next. We dive into these differences to unveil the complex nature of e-waste legislation in the US. Additionally, we analyze collection trends from each of the 25 legislated states. Many of these operated e-waste recycling programs prior to the implementation of state legislation, and thus we assess collection trends prior to and following legislation implementation. Our findings expose key challenges regarding the metrics used to evaluate state e-waste recycling programs as well as (re)igniting the debate on whether the states or federal government are best suited to manage e-waste in the US.

Automated summary

Electronic waste management in the US is inconsistent and fragmented, with differences in legislation among states aiming to promote e-waste recycling. Challenges in evaluating state e-waste recycling programs have sparked a debate on whether states or the federal government are better equipped to manage e-waste.