Maine became the first state in the U.S. to enact a full producer responsibility law for electronics in 2004. The state’s program requires manufacturers to pay for the recycling of household electronics, using a shared responsibility model between manufacturers and local governments. Municipalities act as primary collection points, and covered devices are sent to state-approved consolidators. Maine also bans disposal of many electronic devices in landfills or incinerators, making proper recycling mandatory.
Program Name: Maine Electronic Waste Recycling Program
Year Implemented: 2004
Is Producer Responsibility Required? Yes
Covered Products:
Televisions
Desktop and laptop computers
Monitors
Tablets and e-readers
Who Can Recycle:
Households
K–12 schools
Small businesses (≤100 employees)
Nonprofits (≤100 employees)
Landfill Ban? Yes – disposal of covered devices is prohibited
Key Manufacturer Requirements:
Register with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Pay fees to approved consolidators for recycling their brand’s share of collected e-waste
Label all products with the manufacturer’s brand
Submit annual registration updates
Program Website: https://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/ewaste/index.html
