CA - Anyone part of CalRecycle's CEW payment system?

In CA, the state charges an extra fee when you purchase CRT's (or, Covered Electronics, in CA terminology). This fee is then passed on to state approved collectors and recyclers to ensure that haz mat's are being properly disposed of.

Does anyone on here take part in CalRecycle's Covered Electronics Waste fee system (CIWMB 186)? What can you get per monitor? I'm just wondering if it's worth the hassle of jumping through the hoops, or if I should just pull out what copper I can from CRT's and then drop them off at a free recycling center. I'm pretty small-time right now, but I'm open to expanding in the future.



Also - if you're in CA and understand all the regulations on a small e-waste business, let me know if I can message you. I think I understand things, but I just want to make sure.

I'll just ask publicly, in case anyone else can benefit from the info. I'm trying to figure out what permits are required for a small e-waste business, and it seems all I'd need is a business license and to notify the DTSC of intent to handle u-waste. But I'm trying to start out just collecting - without a warehouse; so it would be preferable to not have to deal with the DTSC. I know someone on here was in that same situation before, but I didn't see any resolution to his story.

All electronics are classified as universal waste, right? Not just the components that contain haz mats? Cause if it were just the components, then I would just keep myself from accumulating 220 lbs. If you keep under 220 lbs you can opt out of being regulated as a conditionally exempt small quantity generator. But I'm pretty sure it's the entire electronics that are considered u-waste. In that case, that limit gets reached pretty quickly...

What's your experience with the DTSC? Are they big on inspections? Are there a lot of regulations concerning the workspace?

Thanks for any help!

So glad I live in Texas...

Thanks for the tip - I sent the SBA an email. I'm also looking into talking to a lawyer to make sure I have a handle on the laws and regulations.

Here's my situation - I want to try some new collection strategies that will put me in the public eye. If I'm out there passing out my info, and directing people to my website (not up yet), then I want to make sure I'm doing things up to code. Also, if it works - and I'm able to establish a steady stream of material in, then I want to be prepared for that. (All it takes is one complaint to get you in trouble.) I'm planning on just working out of a storage unit for the time being. If things work out, then I'll upgrade to a warehouse somewhere down the line. But I'm assuming the DTSC wouldn't look too kindly on working out of a storage facility. Maybe this is all stuff I don't really need to worry about now. But I'd rather understand things from the start that risk getting things up and running only to get shut down. Or worse yet - get hit with a hefty fine. Am I worrying about nothing, though? It's not like I'm gonna be refining for gold. I'm just breaking down towers, really.

For the DTSC form - did you register as a Handler or a Recycler? I can't get ahold of anyone at the DTSC, but it seems to me that once you open up a tower you become a Recycler. I'm assuming the regulations are a bit more strict then.