Information for Computer Equipment Manufacturers

Session Law 2010-67 places a number of North Carolina statutory requirements on computer equipment manufacturers.  Details on these requirements are provided below.

Registration Requirement    (Registration Form Available Here)
Manufacturers of computer equipment must register with the State of North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources [NC DENR].   Manufacturers may download a copy of the registration form or call Ellen Lorscheider (919-707-8245) to receive one by mail. 

Manufacturers FAQ Sheet

Manufacturers Recycling Plans FAQ Sheet

Registration Fee
Within 90 days of registration at any Level of Recycling Plan they choose a computer equipment manufacturers must pay a registration fee according to the following schedule:

• Level I:    $15,000
• Level II:   $10,000
• Level III:  $10,000

 Subsequent years

• Level I:    $15,000
• Level II:   $7,500
• Level III:  $2,500

Payments must be submitted to: NC DENR Division of Waste Management - Solid Waste Section
      Electronics Management Fund
      1646 Mail Service Center
      Raleigh, NC 27699-1646
 

Recycling Plan Requirement
Within 90 days of registration, all computer equipment manufacturers must submit a Computer Equipment Recycling Plan to provide a free and reasonably convenient recycling for consumers.  

Plans must be submitted to: NC DENR Division of Waste Management - Solid Waste Section
Electronics Management Fund
1646 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1646
Attn: Ellen Lorscheider

Computer equipment manufacturers may submit joint plans but must still register and pay registration fees separately.  All plans must follow the order of the outlines below and must address each element in the outlines:

Level I Recycling Plan
A computer equipment manufacturer shall submit a recycling plan for reuse or recycling of computer equipment discarded by consumers in the State produced by the manufacturer.

1. Provide that the manufacturer will take responsibility for computer equipment that it manufactured and that is discarded by consumers.
2. Describe any direct take-back program to be implemented by the manufacturer. Collection methods that are deemed to meet the requirements of this provision include one or more of the following:
   1. A process offered by the computer equipment manufacturer or the manufacturer's designee for consumers to return discarded computer equipment by mail.
   2. A physical collection site operated and maintained by the computer equipment manufacturer or the manufacturer's designee which is available during normal business hours to receive discarded computer equipment from consumers.
   3. A collection event hosted by the computer equipment manufacturer or the manufacturer's designee at which a consumer may return computer equipment.
3. Include a detailed description as to how the manufacturer will implement the plan.
4. Provide for environmentally sound management practices to transport and recycle discarded computer equipment.
5. Include a consumer recycling education program on the laws governing the recycling and reuse of discarded computer equipment and on the methods available to consumers to comply with those requirements. The manufacturer shall operate a toll-free telephone number to answer questions from consumers about computer recycling options.

Level II Recycling Plan
A Level II Recycling Plan must include all the elements of the Level I Recycling Plan and must include additional elements as provided below:

1. Provide that the manufacturer will take responsibility for computer equipment that was manufactured by other manufacturers, as well as computer equipment that it manufactured.
2. Provide that the manufacturer shall: (i) maintain physical collection sites available to consumers during normal business hours to receive discarded computer equipment from consumers in the 10 most populated municipalities in the State and (ii) host at least two collection events annually within the State.

A Level II Plan may offer additional options to collect other types of electronic equipment that do not constitute discarded computer equipment and may allow for assessment of a nominal fee for collection of these other types of electronic equipment.

Level III Recycling Plan
A Level III Recycling Plan must include all the elements of the Level I Recycling Plan and must include additional elements as provided below:

1. Provide that the manufacturer will take responsibility for computer equipment discarded by consumers that was manufactured by other manufacturers, as well as computer equipment that it manufactured.
2. Provide that the manufacturer shall: (i) maintain physical collection sites available during normal business hours to receive discarded computer equipment from consumers in 50 of the State's counties, of which 10 of those counties shall be the most populated counties in the State and (ii) host at least two collection events annually within the State.

As with Level II, a Level III Plan may offer additional options to collect other types of electronic equipment that do not constitute discarded computer equipment and may allow for assessment of a nominal fee for collection of these other types of electronic equipment.

Product Labeling Requirement
A computer equipment manufacturer shall not sell or offer to sell computer equipment in this State unless a visible, permanent label clearly identifying the manufacturer of that equipment is affixed to the equipment.

Recycling Report Requirements- click here to go to the Annual Report form
No later than October 1, 2011 and every year by that date thereafter, each computer equipment manufacturer shall submit a report stating the total weight of all computer equipment collected for recycling or reuse in the previous fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). The report shall also include a summary of actions taken to comply with the requirements of whatever plan a manufacturer chooses to implement. Computer equipment reports should be submitted to:

Division of Waste Management - Solid Waste Section
Electronics Management Fund
1646 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1646
Attn: Ellen Lorscheider