New Brunswick to recycle electronic waste starting in 1 year

New Brunswick will become the last province in Canada to establish a program for electronic waste.

The Gallant government announced Wednesday it will put a recycling program in place for electronics next year. It plans to have the program operational by the fall of 2016.

• Electronics recycling program proposed in New Brunswick

​The news does not come as a surprise, as earlier this year the government put out draft regulations for public discussion about the idea.

Under the program, people will pay a recycling fee to the retailer at the time of purchase of an electronic item. The amount of the fee varies depending on the type of product.

The waste program will be managed by brand owners of electronic equipment and overseen by Recycle New Brunswick.

The program does not cost the government any money.

It is expected the program will divert about 3,500 tons of electronic equipment from landfills every year.