York Waste Management

Background: On January 24, 2013, Pennsylvania’s “Covered Device Recycling Act” (Act 108) went into effect and changed how certain electronic devices must be managed. Under the Act, “covered devices” include televisions, desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals (anything that connects to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.). The Act prohibits the acceptance of these materials at all Pennsylvania solid waste disposal facilities and also prohibits residents from placing them at the curb for waste pick-up. Under the Act, waste haulers will NOT pick up electronic devices. York County residents and businesses must now recycle these devices.

NOW: Due to problems created by the Pennsylvania State Law (Act 108) that requires the recycling of electronics, the York County Solid Waste Authority is forced to suspend Electronics Recycling in York County until further notice. This suspension also applies to municipal satellite programs previously conducted in the following municipalities: Carroll, Fairview, Hopewell, Penn, Shrewsbury, Warrington, Dover, Fawn, Lower Windsor and Windsor Townships, as well as Stewartstown Borough and the City of York. Residents should contact their municipality directly with any questions about those programs.

Act 108 has created an imbalance of supply and demand which makes it economically prohibitive for electronics recycling vendors to operate in Pennsylvania. This situation has been happening across Pennsylvania and has resulted in many PA counties discontinuing their electronics recycling programs. The Authority had secured an electronics recycler for 2016, but on December 17, 2015 they informed the Authority they would not be able to service the program.

Residents and businesses should hold on to electronic devices until a new program can be implemented. The Authority is working on a sustainable solution to address the proper management of electronics waste. Specific electronics waste currently banned from PA waste disposal facilities include: televisions, desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals (anything that connects to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.). This disposal ban, coupled with the insufficient funding mechanisms for recycling established in the law, have together undermined the economic viability of electronics waste recycling in Pennsylvania. The Authority is working with state officials to encourage changes to the Act to enable sustainable recycling of electronics in York County. Residents may also contact Best Buy to determine if their electronics can be accepted there.

Act 108 needs to change. PLEASE voice your concerns by contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at 717-787-7382 and your state legislative representatives. For more information on the issue you can go to or call the Authority at 717-845-1066.