The South Carolina Manufacturer Responsibility and Consumer Convenience Information Technology Equipment Collection and Recovery Act

• Passed in 2010 that banned the disposal of specific electronics in solid waste landfills (Section 48-60-90); effective July 1, 2011. Given that, the legislation established requirements for landfill owners and operators in regards to keeping covered computer and television devices from being disposed of in the state's landfills.
• Revised on March 4, 2014 to add more specific requirements and recovery obligations for computer monitor and television manufacturers.
• These new requirements are in addition to existing prohibitions on disposal of electronics in Class 1 and Class 2 landfills in South Carolina.
• Revisions were passed to the Act during the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. These requirements modified recycling obligations for television and computer monitor manufacturers to a “convenience standard”, updates definitions, updates requirements for recoverers and collectors of covered devices, and pushes the sunset date to December 31, 2029.

To read the full Act, select 'Electronics Legislation' under 'Downloads & Links'.

For covered televisions and computer monitor devices, a county or solid waste authority is eligible, starting in program year 2023, to opt-in to a manufacturer funded e-waste program. Manufacturers will fund the transportation and recycling of covered television and computer monitor devices of each county or solid waste authority who participates.

Requirements for local governments

The legislation (Section 48-60-140) requires that electronics collected through local government programs must be recovered in a manner that complies with all applicable federal, state and local requirements.

Counties participating in programs offered by manufacturers pursuant to section 48-60-51 of the Act must submit an opt-in form by August 1, 2022 to participate in the 2023 program year and by the preceding May 1 before each program year thereafter, beginning with program year 2024.

Counties who are operating as collectors must also comply with the requirements listed in Section 48-60-141 of the Act. Learn more about collections under the appropriate page under ‘Downloads & Links’.

Recommendations on managing local government electronics collection sites

Most county and many municipal governments offer collection sites for unwanted electronics from residents. While the size and type vary, local governments must operate the sites in a manner that protects human health and the environment. South Carolina's electronics legislation does not address the operation of collection sites for local governments, but does require (Section 48-60-140) that recycling vendors follow the industry's best management practices for collection and storage of electronics. Given that, it is recommended that local governments follow best management practices as outlined by the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse.

Computer monitor and television manufacturer obligations

South Carolina's electronics recycling legislation was revised in 2022 to modify recycling obligations for television and computer monitor manufacturers to a “convenience standard”, updates definitions, updates requirements for recoverers and collectors of covered devices, and push the sunset date to December 31, 2029.

Manufacturers are financially responsible for the packaging and shipment materials provided to collectors, transportation of covered televisions and computer monitors from a program site, or 1-day event and the recycling of covered televisions and computer monitors that are collected from program sites and events.

Manufacturers are not financially responsible for transporting and consolidating covered devices from drop off locations. Transportation services are arranged from mutually agreed upon program collection sites or 1-day events.

Per a written agreement with the operator of the manufacturer e-waste program, counties can substitute locations for collection sites and events, reduce or increase the number of collection sites, or use a retail site as a collection site.

Contact

Email e-register@dhec.sc.gov or call 1-800-768-7348.