AUGUSTA – As of Saturday, landfills will no longer be an option for Mainers who are getting rid of their old computers.

Maine joins a small list of states and municipalities that already prohibit dumping old computer monitors and television sets in landfills or burning them.

In February, California banned dumping of computer and television monitors as well as other products that contain mercury or heavy metals. California’s ban, considered the nation’s most stringent, also covers household batteries, mercury thermometers, printers, VCRs, answering machines and radios.

But environmentalists say Maine also has been a national leader in recycling of electronic waste. In 2004, Maine became the first state to hold manufacturers responsible for collecting and recycling obsolete computer monitors and televisions.

Carole Cifrino of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said the system is up and working.

As of Jan. 1, 2006, manufacturers were required to establish “consolidation centers” where towns can drop off the old computers and TVs they collect from residents.

“Manufacturers are paying consolidators, municipalities are participating in the program and reducing drop-off fees, and Maine people are seeing the benefits,” said Cifrino.

Washington State has passed similar legislation, and more than 20 other states are considering laws like Maine’s, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which advocated passage of the landfill dumping ban taking effect July 1.

“The good news is, as of Saturday Maine’s old computers and television sets will no longer be headed to landfills or incinerators where they can release poisons into Maine’s environment,” said Matt Prindiville, who deals with toxics issues for the resources council.

Electronic equipment contains toxic materials that can lead to health problems if released into the environment. Environmentalists say the average monitor or TV contains 4-8 pounds of lead and other toxic materials like mercury and cadmium.

It is estimated that 315 million to 600 million desktop and laptop computers in the United States will soon be obsolete.