Overview

The California Electronic Waste Recycling Act (SB 20) requires retailers — including Amazon marketplace sellers — to collect a recycling fee on certain electronic devices sold to customers in California. This state-mandated fee funds the proper disposal and recycling of hazardous electronic waste, and sellers who ship covered devices to California addresses must understand their obligations under this law.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• The fee is mandated by California law — The eWaste recycling fee is not an Amazon policy but a state requirement under SB 20, enacted in 2003 and administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). All retailers selling covered devices to California buyers must collect this fee.

• Covered devices include screens and monitors — The fee applies to products with screens or video displays, including televisions, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, and portable DVD players. The determining factor is generally the screen size and the type of device.

• Fee amounts vary by screen size — California sets recycling fees based on the screen size of the device. Smaller screens carry a lower fee, while larger displays have higher fees. These amounts are periodically updated by the state.

• Amazon collects the fee automatically — For orders shipped to California addresses, Amazon adds the applicable eWaste fee at checkout. Sellers do not need to manually calculate or add the fee themselves on most transactions processed through Amazon's platform.

• The fee appears as a separate line item — Customers in California will see the eWaste recycling fee listed separately from the product price and sales tax on their order summary, which sometimes generates questions from buyers.

How the Fee Works

The California eWaste recycling fee is collected at the point of sale whenever a covered electronic device is purchased by a customer with a California shipping address. Amazon's system identifies products that fall under the covered device categories and automatically applies the appropriate fee during checkout. The collected fees are then remitted to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which uses the funds to support electronic waste collection and recycling programs throughout the state. Sellers should be aware that this fee is separate from sales tax and is not negotiable or optional for transactions involving covered devices shipped to California.