Nova Scotians paying more to recycle old electronics

Nova Scotiansin the market for a new TV, printer or laptopwill have to pay more this year because the cost to recycle those products when they're no longer needed is on the rise.

All new electronics in the province come with an environmentalhandling fee, which people pay up front to cover the cost of recyclingdevices down the road, whether or not they ever drop something off at a recycling depot.

The fees are set by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA). According to the non-profit organization'sexecutive director, last month's increase was the first since the association started in 2008.

"Since that time, obviously labour costs have gone up, fuel for transportation has gone up, communication costs," Gerard MacLellan told CBC's Information Morning.

"So there's been a number of cost increases and pressures that we've had over the last nine years."

Up to retailers to tell consumers

MacLellan said the fees aretypically reviewed every year, andin 2015, the association lowered the cost for the consumer.

Last month's fee increases varydepending on what you buy, and aren'ttied to the cost of the device.For example, a pair of $1.25 headphones or $500 headphones have the same75-cent fee, up from 40 cents.

• The environmental fee for adesktop computer rose to$4.50from $2.25.
• A portable computer rose to $2.50from $1.20.
• A 46"TVrose to $40 from $35.
• A printerrose to $4.80 from$4.

The provincialEnvironment Department says it has no part in determining these fees and it's up to industry to pay for the recycling program.

The current fees are listed on EPRA's website, but MacLellan said it's not the association's job to directly let consumersknow about potential fee increases.

"We leave that with the retailers. They're the main interface with the consumers," he said.

40,000 tonnes of e-waste

EPRA is one of nine provincially-approvedprograms across the country that collects old electronic devices and makes sure they end up with recycling companies that can give them a new life.

These companies dismantle, separateand recover any recyclable material, which isthen sold and made into new products.

People can drop off their old electronicsfor free at one of 69 recycling depots.

MacLellan said nine years and roughly 40,000 tonnes into the program, most Nova Scotiansknow why they're paying an extra fee when they purchase a new computer or TV.