Alberta collects environmental fee.

Electronics retailers in Alberta, Canada, have started collecting Environmental Fees, also called Advanced Disposal Surcharges, with the purchase of new televisions or computers (and related equipment). The fees--ranging from $5 for laptops to $45 for televisions with screen sizes of 46 inches and larger--cover the cost of collection, transportation and recycling of electronic materials, public information and awareness programs and research related to electronics recycling.

The fee is part of Alberta's new electronics recycling program, the first of its kind in Canada. Since the program was launched in October, Albertans have been dropping off unwanted televisions and computers to more than 75 collection locations across the province. A list of drop-off locations is available at www.albertarecycling.ca.

"When the program was being developed, Albertans said they would support paying a fee as long as it directly funded the collection and recycling of electronics," Doug Wright, CEO of Alberta Recycling Management Authority, says. "This fee is paid by new electronics consumers, not taxpayers, and the money will be used exclusively for the electronics recycling program," he adds.