Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Program Update
Implementation of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (PRC 42460, et seq.) established the Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program. This program is a funding mechanism to improve and provide proper end-of-life management of certain hazardous electronic products.
In 2022, Senate Bill (SB) 1215 was passed, adding covered battery-embedded products to the CEW Recycling Program.
The data presented is provided annually. The data presented is for video display devices and does not include battery-embedded products. Battery-embedded product data will be available sometime in 2027.
Revenue Payment Status
CalRecycle is statutorily obligated to adjust the CEW recycling fee to maintain fund solvency. In 2025, CalRecycle performed an assessment and decided to maintain the fee at the current rates of $4, $5, and $6 per device (depending on the screen size).
CEW Recycling Program Participants (as of June 2025)
Approved Collectors: 290*
*Includes Approved Collectors that are also Approved Recyclers
Approved Recyclers: 21
- Voluntary participation includes a diverse group of organizations, such as non-profit organizations, solid waste management companies, local governments, and traditional e-waste collection and recycling businesses.
- DTSC inspections of recycling facilities and compliance with environmental standards are required for participant approval and eligibility to receive payments.
- The infrastructure that recovers CEW also recovers miscellaneous electronic waste not regulated or funded by the CEW Recycling Program.
Visit the Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Program webpage for information on:
- Types of devices included in the definition of CEDs
- Key elements of the program
- Payment rates
- Consumer fees and
- Laws
Payment Rates Used as of the End of the Calendar Year 2024
CalRecycle pays approved recyclers the combined recovery and recycling payment. Approved recyclers are required to pay collectors the recovery payment.
- As of July 1, 2024, the recovery rate for all CEW due to collectors is $0.40 per pound.
- The combined recovery and recycling payment rates are:
- CRT CEW is $1.13 per pound
- Non-CRT CEW is $1.15 per pound
Year to Year Comparison (based on claim reporting month*)
Claims Submitted (with cost in millions (M) and approximate million pounds):
- 2005: 216 total, $31 M (64 M pounds)
- 2006: 283 total, $61 M (127 M pounds)
- 2007: 350 total, $88 M (184 M pounds)
- 2008: 403 total, $96 M (220 M pounds)
- 2009: 300 total, $72 M (185 M pounds)
- 2010: 251 total, $75 M (194 M pounds)
- 2011: 298 total, $77 M (198 M pounds)
- 2012: 314 total, $83 M (212 M pounds)
- 2013: 274 total, $79 M (202 M pounds)
- 2014: 269 total, $77 M (183 M pounds)
- 2015: 247 total, $77 M (175 M pounds)
- 2016: 208 total, $72 M (153 M pounds)
- 2017: 222 total, $63 M (128 M pounds)
- 2018: 229 total, $51 M (101 M pounds)
- 2019: 240 total, $47 M (90 M pounds)
- 2020: 206 total, $50 M (74 M pounds)
- 2021: 204 total, $56 M (73 M pounds)
- 2022: 215 total, $58 M (64 M pounds)
- 2023: 205 total, $67 M (64 M pounds)
- 2024: 220 total, $72 M (65 M pounds)
*Note: As of January 2018, the tracking of these values was standardized to remove claims that were rejected due to deficiencies or the claimant’s request.
Year to Year CRT vs Non-CRT Unit Comparison (based on claim reporting month*)
Units Transferred in millions (M):
- 2015: 2.6M total, 2.2M CRT (84%), 0.4M Non-CRT (16%)
- 2016: 2.4M total, 1.8M CRT (76%), 0.6M Non-CRT (24%)
- 2017: 2.2M total, 1.4M CRT (63%), 0.8M Non-CRT (37%)
- 2018: 1.9M total, 1.0M CRT (54%), 0.9M Non-CRT (46%)
- 2019: 2.0M total, 0.8M CRT (41%), 1.2M Non-CRT (59%)
- 2020: 1.7M total, 0.6M CRT (33%), 1.2M Non-CRT (67%)
- 2021: 1.9M total, 0.5M CRT (24%), 1.5M Non-CRT (76%)
- 2022: 2.0M total, 0.3M CRT (16%), 1.7M Non-CRT (84%)
- 2023: 2.1M total, 0.2M CRT (11%), 1.9M Non-CRT (89%)
- 2024: 0.5M total, 0.1M CRT (11%), 0.4M Non-CRT (89%)
*Unit type (CRT or non-CRT) data is only available for 2015 and after.
Approximately 21M total units, 9M CRT (43%), 12M non-CRT (57%), were transferred during the reporting months of January 2015 to December 2024.
CalRecycle has annually denied between 1% and 12% of the money claimed in the CEW Recycling Program due to non-compliant documentation (14 CCR 18660.3).
The total payment adjustments from the start of the program through December 2024 are about $31.5 million (approximately 2.3% of the claims).
Compliance Assurance and Fraud Prevention
- CalRecycle and DTSC cooperate on regulatory and enforcement responsibilities that ensure those regulated comply with the law.
- CalRecycle has statutory authority to impose administrative civil penalties against any person for false statements or representations made in documentation for the purpose of compliance with the law.
- CalRecycle works with the Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards to verify that approved recyclers are complying with applicable weights and measures laws and regulations.
Other Program Implementation Activities
Annual Net Cost Reporting
- Program participants must report annually on costs to handle and process CEW. The information is used to inform CalRecycle’s mandate to consider payment rate adjustments (per PRC 42477 and 42478).
- Current laws require that annual Net Cost Reports must be submitted by all approved collectors and recyclers on or before March 1st.
2005-2024 Pounds of CRT and Non-CRT CEW Claimed for Payment
CEW Recycling Payment System
Pounds of CRT and Non-CRT Claimed for Payment
Click on chart to enlarge. See Appendix 1 toggle for a detailed breakdown of the data at the bottom of the webpage.
*Comments on the Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Payment System Chart: The chart depicts claim volumes, reflecting the program’s evolution from its inception in January 2005 through December 2024. Factors affecting the fluctuating volumes include infrastructure development, the digital television broadcast transition in 2009, CRT glass market disruptions, and legacy stockpile depletion.
2015-2024 Units of CRT and Non-CRT CEW Transferred
CRT vs. Non-CRT Units Transferred by Reporting Year 2015-24
See Appendix 2 toggle for a detailed breakdown of the data at the bottom of the webpage.
Outreach and Other Resources
- CalRecycle’s Electronic Waste Management webpage: management of electronic waste information and California recycling directory.
- The Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Fee Guide: information about the Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Fee and the obligations of CED retailers and consumers in California.
- The Department of Toxics Substances Control website: information on covered devices, hazardous waste management standards, and regulatory requirements.
Chart Appendices
Appendix 1
|
Year |
CRT Pounds Claimed |
Non-CRT Pounds Claimed |
|
2005 |
64,389,782 |
43,035 |
|
2006 |
126,567,589 |
70,698 |
|
2007 |
184,001,227 |
128,645 |
|
2008 |
219,279,718 |
234,385 |
|
2009 |
184,608,662 |
518,186 |
|
2010 |
192,183,827 |
1,354,261 |
|
2011 |
195,464,611 |
2,220,497 |
|
2012 |
208,612,778 |
3,390,096 |
|
2013 |
197,514,080 |
4,159,422 |
|
2014 |
177,646,847 |
5,754,842 |
|
2015 |
166,208,186 |
9,179,570 |
|
2016 |
140,132,266 |
12,931,644 |
|
2017 |
109,299,702 |
18,281,932 |
|
2018 |
80,580,813 |
20,357,824 |
|
2019 |
62,690,095 |
27,721,381 |
|
2020 |
43,421,265 |
30,552,244 |
|
2021 |
34,496,452 |
38,658,389 |
|
2022 |
23,169,414 |
41,066,955 |
|
2023 |
17,259,082 |
50,425,036 |
|
2024 |
14,090,017 |
11,371,699 |
Appendix 2
|
Year |
CRT Units |
CRT Percent |
Non-CRT Units |
Non-CRT Percent |
Total Transferred Units |
|
2015 |
2,193,592 |
84% |
417,255 |
16% |
2,610,847 |
|
2016 |
1,789,027 |
76% |
569,648 |
24% |
2,358,675 |
|
2017 |
1,391,576 |
63% |
814,124 |
37% |
2,205,700 |
|
2018 |
1,036,205 |
54% |
876,482 |
46% |
1,912,687 |
|
2019 |
801,699 |
41% |
1,151,389 |
59% |
1,953,088 |
|
2020 |
554,672 |
33% |
1,150,823 |
67% |
1,705,495 |
|
2021 |
454,860 |
24% |
1,479,956 |
76% |
1,934,816 |
|
2022 |
320,697 |
16% |
1,695,366 |
84% |
2,016,063 |
|
2023 |
239,607 |
11% |
1,896,828 |
89% |
2,136,435 |
|
2024 |
200,444 |
9% |
1,954,302 |
91% |
2,154,746 |
For more information contact: Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Program, CEDManufacturers@calrecycle.ca.gov