Mandatory residential recycling of electronic devices including computers, televisions and cell phones could be coming to Baltimore County if one councilman has his way.

Councilman Vince Gardina, a Democrat who represents the 5th District, said the mandatory recycling law is needed to protect the environment from large amounts of dangerous materials contained in devices that are routinely thrown into county landfills.

“Right now, there’s no restriction on how they’re disposed of,” Gardina told the council at its Tuesday work session. “A lot of them are thrown in the trash which wind up in landfills. Very few of them are actually recycled.”

“The reason for requiring the recycling is that they’re made of a number of different materials that are rather hazardous, including a number of heavy metals, as well as plastics that contaminate water, contaminate resources and when they’re burned create a number of other hazardous chemicals,” said Gardina, who represents Perry Hall, Carney and Towson.

Under the proposed law, county residents would be required to recycle items such as computers, televisions and other video displays, telephones and cell phones, DVD players and VCRs and “any other electronic device that is sold, primarily for personal use, to a household.”

The law does not include such large appliances such as dryers, refrigerators, ranges or dishwashers.

Currently, the county accepts electronics for recycling at each of three county facilities.

Mike Pierce, a Kingsville community activist, said he supports the proposal but wished it also applied to county businesses

“I certainly think what applies to the goose applies to the gander,” Pierce said. “I’m a little surprised it only applies to residential use. I think it would make sense that the same kind of restriction, same kind of requirement applied to businesses and government agencies. I think it would help get it across to the public that we’re committed to this.”

Councilman Sam Moxley, a Democrat who represents the 1st District, said he was concerned about the penalties in Gardina’s bill, which includes the possibility of a misdemeanor criminal conviction and a fine of $500 or more.

“It scares me,” said Moxley, who represents Arbutus and Catonsville.

Gardina said he planned to amend the proposed penalty with a simple $500 civil fine.

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, a Democrat who represents the 2nd District, said he was concerned about how the law would be enforced.

It is not clear from the bill what agency would be responsible for enforcement.

“Does the private trash hauler root through the trash can and say ‘I found a recyclable item’ and somehow call the code inspector?” asked Kamenetz, who represents Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton.

“No, it’s going to be hard to do that, but if the bill were passed the trash hauler would be prohibited from picking up those items if they knew about them,” Gardina explained.

Ed Adams, director of the county’s Department of Public Works, told the council that haulers already do not pick up items they cannot accept in the landfill.

“If it’s something tucked away in the trash, obviously we’re not rooting through people’s trash,” Adams said.

Kamenetz said he believed “the intent of the law is good, but perhaps the civil violation is the appropriate way, but I would suggest (a fine) like $50 something that is really not there to punish but will offer some persuasion to let people know that this is not appropriate.”

The bill is scheduled for a vote Sept. 8.

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