Cathode Ray Tubes Waste Ban

(for an earlier article on the CRT Waste Ban see "Cathode Ray Tubes Banned July 1, 1999")

As you probably already know the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) began prohibiting the disposal, or transfer for disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) at all Massachusetts solid waste facilities. The ban went into effect April 1, 2000. CRTs are the glass picture-tubes found in televisions, computer monitors and video games. These devices contain lead which helps to protect users from radiation. The average CRT contains approximately five pounds of lead which poses a health risk if disposed of improperly.

SCRAM has been providing municipalities in Central Massachusetts technical assistance in setting up collection programs for CRTs and the accompanying electronic equipment such as computers. The following is a list of vendors that have already held municipal collections or have been in contact with DEP to be pre-qualified to pick up CRTs under DEP's Market Service Grant Program. DEP makes no warranties concerning these vendors and strongly suggests checking into all local appliance collectors and haulers.

We are compiling a list of vendors that Central Massachusetts Municpalities are using to recycle their CRTs. If you are a municipality who is recycling CRTs, please send us the following information:

• do you have a DEP Market Service Grant for recycling CRTs?
• the name of your current vendor
• fees your vendor is charging you
• the amounts of fees that you charge residents
• if you are you also collecting computers and any fees associated with this collection

For a more expansive vendor list and more information about DEP's CRT collection grant program, check out our link to the Recycle/Reuse section of DEP's web-site below. Here you will find documents regarding Consumer Information, Cities and Towns, Business and Industry, Regulations, and Historical Information.

(Download "The Recycling Services Directory and Markets Guide for Massachusetts")