Managing Hazardous Waste

We protect the environment and communities by ensuring compliance with hazardous waste laws

Covered Electronic Devices

What are covered electronic devices (CEDs)?

A covered electronic device (CED) is BOTH:

a video display device with a screen size greater than four inches, measured diagonally
identified in the California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 66260.201(e) and CCR Appendix X(c).

Note CEDs that are no longer wanted, used, or functional, are universal wastes. This means that you can not dispose of CEDs in your household trash!

On this page…

Listed vs excluded CEDs
Adding a CED category
CED manufacturer reporting and notice requirements
Legislation and Regulations
- Senate Bill (SB) 1215
- 2021 Emergency Rulemaking
Additional Resources

On this page…

Listed vs excluded CEDs
Adding a CED category
CED manufacturer reporting and notice requirements
Legislation and Regulations
- Senate Bill (SB) 1215
- 2021 Emergency Rulemaking
Additional Resources

Learn more about universal wastes and how to dispose of them. Refer to DTSC’s Universal Waste webpage.

What is a “video display device?”

California law defines a video display device (VDD) is “an electronic device with an output surface that displays, or is capable of displaying, moving graphical images or a visual representation of image sequences or pictures, showing a number of quickly changing images on a screen in fast succession, to create the illusion of motion.” This definition includes, if applicable, any device that you cannot easily remove from the display.

Some of the different types of technology a VDD may use:

Open Toggles

Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs)

CRTs and CRT devices are an obsolete technology. Yet, some devices are still in use. When these devices reach end-of-life, you must dispose of them appropriately.

These devices include, but are not limited to:

Old box televisions
Old computer monitors

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

In most cases, LCDs use light emitting diodes (LED) as a light source. The terms LCD and LED are used almost interchangeably for the same type of display.

LCD/LED displays include, but may not be limited to:

Active-matrix LCD
Passive-matrix LCD
Nano-cell LCD
QLED LCD

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)

This category includes both of the following and may include other types of OLEDs depending on OLED technology:

active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays and
passive-matrix organic light-emitting diode (PMOLED) displays

Plasma Gas

Plasma gas displays are an obsolete technology. Newer LED and OLED replaced plasma gas displays. Yet, some devices using plasma gas displays are still in use today. When these devices reach end-of-life, you must be dispose of them appropriately. Plasma gas displays were commonly used in flat-screen televisions.

Plasma gas displays can be hard to differentiate from LED or OLED displays. One way to identify devices with a plasma gas display is by weight. Devices with plasma displays will be much heavier than those with an LED or OLED display.

Listed vs. excluded CEDs

Below are the 15 categories of CEDs listed in the regulations. We have also provided a list of common CED exclusions.

Covered Electronic Devices (CEDs)

Cathode ray tube containing devices (CRT devices)
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
Computer monitors containing CRTs
Laptop computers with liquid crystal display (LCD)
LCD containing desktop monitors
Televisions containing CRTs
Televisions containing LCD screens
Plasma televisions
Portable DVD players with LCD screens
OLED-containing televisions*
OLED-containing laptop computers*
OLED-containing tablets*
OLED-containing desktop monitors*
LCD-containing tablets*
LCD-containing smart displays*

Modern working desktop featuring a laptop, keyboard, monitor, cell phone, and a tablet

A room full of Covered Electronic Devices, most of which are televisions

* Added with our 2021 emergency rulemaking package. We are currently working on formal rulemaking to make the emergency regulations permanent.

Excluded covered electronic devices (CEDs)

A VDD that is a part of a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 415 of the Vehicle Code, or any component part of a motor vehicle assembled by or for a vehicle manufacturer or franchised dealer, including replacement parts for use in a motor vehicle
A VDD that is contained within or a part of a piece of industrial, commercial, or medical equipment, including monitoring or control equipment
A VDD that is contained within a clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator and/or freezer, microwave oven, conventional oven or range, dishwasher, room air-conditioner, dehumidifier, or air purifier
An electronic device, on and after the date that it ceases to be a covered electronic device.

Learn more about CED exclusions. Refer to Public Resources Code section 42463(g)(2).

Updating the list of CED categories

We recognize that technology is rapidly changing and advancing. New electronic devices are being introduced onto the market regularly. That said, our list of CEDs is subject to change.

Implementing CED category updates

When DTSC adds a new CED category, the change is not effective immediately. Instead, the device becomes a CED on July 1 of the following year. This gives manufacturers time to comply with California’s Restrictions on the use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) requirements. California’s RoHS regulations only apply to CEDs manufactured on and after the date the device became a CED.

EXAMPLE

Adding portable DVD players with LCD screens greater than four inches to the list of CEDs

December 31, 2006 – DTSC added portable DVD players with LCD screens to the list of CEDs in the CCR.

July 1, 2007 – DVD players with LCD screens became CEDs. They are now subject to California’s:

RoHS regulations (for devices manufactured on and after July 1, 2007) and
other applicable parts of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act

EXAMPLE

Adding portable DVD players with LCD screens greater than four inches to the list of CEDs

December 31, 2006 – DTSC added portable DVD players with LCD screens to the list of CEDs in the CCR.

July 1, 2007 – DVD players with LCD screens became CEDs. They are now subject to California’s:

RoHS regulations (for devices manufactured on and after July 1, 2007) and
other applicable parts of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act

CED manufacturer reporting and notice responsibilities

Manufacturers selling in California must determine if their electronic device is a CED. Every year, CED manufacturers must:

submit a Manufacturer Report to CalRecycle
send a notice to retailers of their CEDs

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Manufacturer Responsibility

The manufacturer must determine if their electronic device is a CED.

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Manufacturer Responsibility

The manufacturer must determine if their electronic device is a CED.

Note New models and versions of devices may change their CED classification. A manufacturer must make a CED determination for each model or version of their device(s).

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CalRecycle Manufacturer Report

The report must include certain information on the use of various substances in CEDs.

Refer to CalRecycle’s Manufacturer Reporting Information webpage for more information.

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CalRecycle Manufacturer Report

The report must include certain information on the use of various substances in CEDs.

Refer to CalRecycle’s Manufacturer Reporting Information webpage for more information.

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Manufacturer's annual notice to retailers

CED manufacturers must send an annual notice to each retailer of their product. The annual notice must include a list of all CEDs they produce. The notice must inform the retailer that the electronic device is a CED subject to the electronic waste recycling fee. The annual notice must include the following information:

The brand name(s) of each of the CED
A general description of each of the CED [e.g., CRT TV, laptop computer, LCD monitor]
The viewable screen size, measured diagonally, for each CED.
At least one of the following:
- the product group or family
- model number or series
- part number or series
- a similar descriptor for each CED that will enable retailers to determine that the electronic device is a CED.

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Manufacturer's annual notice to retailers

The brand name(s) of each of the CED
A general description of each of the CED [e.g., CRT TV, laptop computer, LCD monitor]
The viewable screen size, measured diagonally, for each CED.
At least one of the following:
- the product group or family
- model number or series
- part number or series
- a similar descriptor for each CED that will enable retailers to determine that the electronic device is a CED.

Annual notice to retailers

“All [brand name] XYZ series, 15-inch through 21-inch, LCD-desktop computer monitors and all bundled computer systems containing these monitors are CEDs and the corresponding fee is required to be collected.”

Annual notice to retailers

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Refer to section 66260.201 of title 22 of California Code of Regulations to learn more about the manufacturer’s annual notice requirement.

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A manufacturer violates California’s laws and regulations if they:

incorrectly determine that a product it produces is not a CED
fails to notify retailers of their CED products

Non-hazardous determinations

A manufacturer may determine their listed electronic device is nonhazardous. If so, the manufacturer may request a non-hazardous waste determination concurrence from DTSC.

Learn how to apply for a concurrence of non-hazardous waste determination. Refer to California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 66260.200(d).

Laws and regulations

Classification of an Electronic Device as a Covered Electronic Device – 22 CCR § 66260.201
Listing of Covered Electronic Devices – 22 CCR § 66260.201(e)
Definition of “Video Display Device” – PRC § 42463(x)
Definition of “Covered Electronic Device” – PRC § 42463(g)
Video Display Device Exemptions – PRC § 42463(g)(2)

Senate Bill 1215 – Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003: covered battery-embedded products

In 2022, Governor Newsom approved Senate Bill (SB) 1215. This bill added covered battery-embedded products (CBEPs) to the Electronic Waste Recycling Act. CBEPs will be part of the Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program beginning in 2026.

What is a CBEP?

CBEP means “a product that contains a battery that is not designed to be easily removed by the user with common household tools.”

CBEPs do NOT include:

Certain medical devices
Existing CEDs (i.e., VDDs)
Certain energy storage systems
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, vape pens)

SB 1215 covered battery-embedded products

CalRecycle’s webpage provides an overview of SB 1215’s requirements. They also provide the timeline for implementing the bill.

Learn more

Approved Emergency Rulemaking — Adding to the list of CEDs

In 2021, DTSC expanded the list of CEDs eligible for the CEW Recycling Program. We added certain types of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. We also added the definition of “smart displays.”

To view the emergency rulemaking package, you can visit our Emergency Rulemaking webpage.