Pittsburgh City Council eyes electronics recycling bill

Pittsburgh City Council is considering new legislation that would help city residents recycle electronics and household hazardous waste.

Electronic scrap has been banned from Pennsylvania landfills since 2010, leaving residents with few recycling options, the city stated in a press release Monday.

Under the new legislation, Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works (DPW) would contract with Environmental Coordination Services and Recycling, Inc. (ECS&R) to provide curbside and drop-off options to recycle obsolete electronics and household hazardous waste. The service would begin in January.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and former Councilman Dan Gilman introduced the legislation to city council to “provide residents with dependable and responsible ways to dispose of the material.”

“This legislation is good for residents and for our neighborhoods, especially as it should cut down on illegal dumping,” Councilwoman Kail-Smith says.

According to the release, city council has support from the Department of Public Works and Mayor William Peduto.

Proposed prices for disposing of old televisions and computers will be 40 cents per pound.

Residents will have the option of dropping off materials at the DPW facility. Residents will be allowed to pull in to the facility, have their discarded electronics weighed and charged a recycling fee that can be paid with a check or credit card. 

Curbside pick-up will also be offered for a $50 fee, in addition to the cost per pound of material. 

The city’s proposed contract with ECS&R is for $210,000.