What's Up With This Fee on My Receipt?

A
n Electronic Waste Recycling Fee is assessed on certain "covered electronic devices" sold in California. "Covered" means covered by the law, and includes most video display products such as computer monitors and televisions. The fee, ranging from $8 to $25 depending on screen size, is collected at the time of retail sale, including Internet and catalog sales, to California consumers.

Collected fees are deposited in an Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account managed by the State of California and are used to provide payments to authorized collectors and recyclers, fostering the development of recycling opportunities and offsetting the cost of properly managing these types of products at the end of their useful lives. Due to hazardous components, it is unlawful to dispose of most covered electronic devices with regular municipal waste.

It is important to note that the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee is not a deposit, and that the covered products do not contain "redemption value", as do many beverage containers in California. Consumers are not entitled to reimbursement of the fee when covered products are recycled. Rather, the intent of the fee is to reduce, or eliminate, the costs associated with properly recycling this material when it becomes waste.