A new plan to recycle old computers, televisions and other electronic devices is receiving mixed reviews from Burnside businesses.

On February 1, Nova Scotians started paying an extra charge of between $5 and $45 on new computers, televisions, printers and monitors. The fee is designed to cover the cost of recycling outdated electronic equipment. However, some Burnside small businesses are worried the additional costs will make it harder to compete.

“It’s difficult enough for the little guy to compete against the big boxes, against Dell and HP,” says Terry Crowell, manager of Daiwa Distribution (N.S.) Inc., a wholesale computer operation in Burnside. “It’s easy for [big box stores] to hide this extra fee in their costs, but an extra $10 for the little guy means something. Plus you’ve got a fee on your printer, on your monitor depending on size, and they want it shown in the sale price.”

Tino Klironomos, a co-owner of PC Medic, agrees. “The extra fee always looks bad as a retailer and it looks like the money is going to the retailer even though it goes to the government,” Klironomos says.

But Jay Illingworth, vice president of Electronics Product Stewardship Canada - the non-profit group overseeing the program - says the fees are justified. “The fees are based on calculations at the industry level, determined by rates for transportation and the cost to effectively recycle. We’ll be reviewing these fees regularly and if we can lower them we will,” Illingworth says...

http://www.novascotiabusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?sid=108103&sc=107