Under California’s SB 1215, consumers will be required to pay an electronic waste recycling fee upon the purchase of certain new or refurbished products starting Jan. 1, 2026. | Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
California’s e-scrap recycling program will expand after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two battery-related bills into law.
An e-scrap processing firm is under investigation for allegedly purchasing stolen catalytic converters. | Courtesy of Fremont Police Department
Arrow Recovery is under investigation by local police for buying large quantities of black market catalytic converters, despite some having “stolen” etched onto them by undercover officers.
Old Dominion will pay over $1.3M for improper disposal of electronic devices, batteries and other hazardous materials. | Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
Old Dominion Freight Line has settled a case with the state of California over allegations that the company failed to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste, including e-scrap.
Changes to CalRecycle’s per-pound payments to e-scrap processors will go into effect July 1. | penofoto/Shutterstock
This story has been updated.
Attention, California e-scrap processors: A pay raise is coming.
California state legislators are considering a battery stewardship bill. | Steve Heap/Shutterstock
This story has been corrected.
A California bill would create an extended producer responsibility program for batteries and battery-embedded products.
According to the lawsuit, from 2015 through 2021 discarded electronics were found in Walmart compactors in over a dozen California counties. | Sundry Photography/Shutterstock
California’s attorney general and several district attorneys this week filed suit against Walmart, alleging the major retailer routinely improperly disposes of e-scrap and other hazardous waste. The company told E-Scrap News the state’s demands go beyond what’s required by law.
OLED televisions are among the devices California regulators are planning to add to the state’s e-scrap program. | ZikG/Shutterstock
California regulators are planning to add OLED display devices, LCD smart displays and LCD tablets to the state’s e-scrap program.
In California, many products will soon need to meet a 60% recycling rate to be considered “recyclable.” | Donald Walker / Shutterstock
Electronics manufacturers may be barred from telling consumers about certain device take-back programs in California, under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law this month.
California legislators recently approved legislation regulating labeling on plastic packaging, with implications for electronics as well. | Bobkeenan Photography / Shutterstock
California legislation targeting how plastic packaging is labeled also affects recycling labels for consumer electronics, according to industry groups.
Each year, CalRecycle staff determine whether they need to raise, lower or maintain the fees consumers pay to fund the state’s electronics recycling program. | Somchai Som / Shutterstock
California officials say they will have enough money to continue running the state’s e-scrap recycling program without hiking fees.