Recycling in NYC -- it's gonna be the law.

If you're at all ecologically-minded, you're going to want to resell or recycle your used tech equipment rather than put it out for the trash. If you're like me, however, there's a good chance you've been stashing it down in the basement, to be taken care of when you "have the time."

Well, if you live in New York City, and have been too busy to get rid of your old computers, CRTS, digital cameras, etc., be careful -- in another year, you may find yourself stuck with them forever. That is, unless you don't mind paying for the privilege.

According to the NYCWasteLe$$ site, which is associated with New York City Department of Sanitation's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling, it will be illegal for New Yorkers to dispose of used electronic items in the trash after July 1, 2010. That's a little over a year away.

Your alternatives? Well, they aren't wide. New York City's Department of Sanitation used to have periodic electronics recycling events, where residents could take their e-waste. These were halted in 2008, due to budget cuts. One can safely assume that, unless there is a radical economic turnaround within a year, they won't be reinstituted.

The city's answer? Part of the Electronic Equipment Collection, Recycling and Reuse Act mandates that electronics manufacturers set up take-back programs by late 2009. They will be required to accept any equipment manufactured under their own brand name (whether or not the customer purchases new equipment), or any equipment similar to that which a customer has just purchased.

It sounds good. But if the manufacturers are going to comply with the law, they'd better get cracking. For example, according to the list of manufacturer take-back programs on the site, Costco.com provides free recycling services for a variety of used electronics gear. When I went to the site, it had a notice stating that "The Trade-In & Recycle program is temporarily unavailable."

Of course, the manufacturers have until late this year to start complying, so it's possible that, in a few months, Costco's program will be reinstated. But there's also a good chance that NYC residents who don't have a cooperative manufacturer or retail store near them may have to start paying for the privilege of recycling their used electronics.