Minnesota has a new law requiring manufacturers of household video display devices (VDDs) to collect and recycle them: computer monitors, televisions, and laptops.

Manufacturers of VDDs will register and pay a fee to the state, and collect and recycle VDDs from households/consumers in Minnesota. This program began on July 1, 2007.

VDDs include all televisions, laptops, and computer monitors that are sold to households. (Displays must be larger than 9 inches measured diagonally.)

Minnesota’s new electronics recycling law established new requirements for retailers.

Under Minnesota law, a retailer sells, rents, or leases new VDDs to households in Minnesota through sales outlets, catalogs, or the Internet. Sellers of VDDs will only be able to sell products to households in Minnesota from manufacturers that are registered with the state. Under the law, retailers pay no fees and do not need to register with the state. Retailers are required to report to each registered manufacturer their annual sales of that manufacturer’s household/consumer VDDs; the first report must be delivered August 1, 2008.

Registration:
Under Minnesota law, there is no registration requirement for retailers. Retailers cannot sell VDDs to a Minnesota household unless the manufacturer of that device is registered with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Following the manufacturers’ registration deadline, an official list of registered manufacturers and brands will be posted on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website (www.pca.state.mn.us).

Retailers should check the list of registered manufacturers each September.

Reporting:
Under the law, retailers are required to annually report to each manufacturer the number of each type of VDDs sold to Minnesota households for the program year. Manufacturers must have this information so that they can meet their obligations under the law.

Although the law does not require retailers to report more frequently than annually, retailers are encouraged to inform manufacturers of sales of their products on at least a quarterly basis.

Education:
A retailer selling new VDDs must provide information to households describing where and how they may recycle VDDs, including opportunities and locations for convenient collection for recycling. This requirement may be met by providing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s number,
(800) 657-3864 and website address, www.pca.state.mn.us. Retailers selling through catalogs or the Internet can include the information in a prominent location on the retail website.

For More Information contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at electronics@pca.state.mn.us or Darren Reaman at (800) 669-5329 ext. 144.