Dubois County Solid Waste increases fees for Electronic waste

Monday, the Dubois County Solid Waste District announced fees for dropping off televisions and tube-style computer monitors have increased.

Those items have user fees between $5 and $20. Other electronics have $1 user fees.

The Dubois County Solid Waste District recycles all electronics that are brought into the District’s Process Center located at 1103 S 350 W in Jasper. However, due to commodity prices and an abundance nationally of electronic waste, there is a cost associated with recycling the items. Those prices being charged by recyclers have recently tripled, so user fees associated with those items are being increased.

The Indiana Electronic Waste Law, effective since 2009, prohibits disposal of electronics in the regular trash- those items must be recycled. However, agencies offering e-waste recycling must cover fees locally.

“We completely support Indiana’s law and want to make sure people do recycle,” said Solid Waste District Director Carla Striegel-Winner, “but with the difficulties we are seeing with rising costs, we sure do wish there was state funding for this mandate. We are trying to keep our user fees at an affordable level for our residents.”

There are other options for recycling electronics in Dubois County, but the Solid Waste District is one of two registered Indiana E-cycle Collectors located in the county. More information on Indiana E-cycle is available at www.in.gov/idem/recycle/2373.htm.