Beginning January 1, 2005, an Electronic Waste Recycling Fee, ranging from $6 to $10, will be assessed at the time of sale on certain "covered electronic devices" (most TVs, computer monitors and laptops) sold in California. Visit eRecycle.org for more information. Office Depot on Moorpark Road offers a used ink and toner cartridge program. The store accepts ink cartridges that have a print head (HP, Lexmark, Cannon) and toner cartridges. As an incentive, residents who return their used ink and toner cartridges to Office Depot receive either a free ream of paper or $2.50 off the purchase of a replacement ink or toner cartridge. Visit www.community.officedepot.com for more information. It is the role of the manufacturer, consumer, and government to equally share the responsibility for creating, collecting, and recycling electronics. The following information provides local and national resources for computer/electronics recycling. Facts to Consider 315 million computers were discarded or obsolete at the end of 2004. Electronic waste represents five percent or 3.2 million tons of the U.S. municipal waste stream. The electronics waste stream is projected to increase three to five percent each year, almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream. Source: "Exporting Harm: High Tech Trashing of Asia" , Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, February 25, 2002. Planning to buy a new computer? When you purchase a new computer, ask what to do with your old computer. Some companies have programs in place to help you reuse or recycle computers and electronics. Some companies offer credit towards the purchase of a new computer. Manufacturers That Sell and Recycle Computers/Electronics Local Computer/Electronic Recyclers State of California Electronic Product Management Directory National and State Resources California Integrated Waste Management Board offers information on reuse and recycling markets in California. Electronics Industries Alliance to learn more about the $550 billion electronics industry, information on reuse and recycling, and E-waste recycling. California Resource Recovery Association provides information and resources on how to properly manage your electronics products. National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI) - Process to develop a national product stewardship system to maximize the collection, reuse and recycling of used electronics while considering incentives to design products that facilitate source reduction, reuse, and recycling. Recycled Goods, Inc. - Remarketing of technological equipment such as computer, office, audio visual, electronic test, scientific, medical, and semiconductor equipment. Clean Computer Campaign - Offers form letters to major computer companies requesting take-back, green design and worldwide consistent practices. Consumers can also check computer companies' "report cards" at the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition website. Guide to Environmentally Preferable Purchasing - Use your buying power to demand products that are less toxic, more energy efficient, durable, upgradeable, and recyclable. Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition offers information on computer manufacturing responsibility, rankings, and impacts on health and the environment. Click here to read the groundbreaking report "Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia." Staples, Inc. offers retail take-back programs for mobile electronics (e.g., cell phones, pagers, and PDAs) and rechargeable batteries. Customers may recycle these items by dropping them off at their local Staples store. Contact Owen.davis@staples.com for additional information. AT&T Wireless offers safe recycling of unwanted or obsolete wireless phones, batteries, and accessories. National Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) - Assists state and local agencies in establishing cooperative agreements with industry and environmental groups to reduce health and environmental impacts from consumer product manufacture, use, storage and disposal. UNICOR - Employs and trains individuals housed in Federal prisons in the recycling of electronic items, primarily computers, cathode ray tubs, and peripherals. Its operations are sustained through the sale of goods and services, primarily to Federal agencies. Reclamere - offers information how to dispose of your old computer equipment legally. Rethink: Fresh Ideas for a Cleaner World Northwest Product Stewardship Council - Information on outreach efforts and pilot programs with computer manufacturers, retailers, repair and reuse organizations to properly manage used electronic products. To properly recycle computers, printers, monitors, and other electronic equipment, call GI Rubbish at (805) 522-9400 or Newbury Disposal at (800) 41-TRASH, to schedule curbside pickup service. Electronics may also be dropped off at the following locations: Gold Coast Recycling Center, 5275 Colt Street, Ventura. Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (805) 642-9236. GI Rubbish, 195 W. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (805) 522-9400. Goodwill Industries, Sears Parking Lot (Janss Marketplace), West Hillcrest Drive. Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). (805) 981-0130 For additional information, please contact the Public Works Department at (805) 449-2400 or PublicWorks@toaks.org .