The computer age has ushered in countless innovations, but one thing remains elusive: what to do with used, cast-off electronics, which contain components that qualify as hazardous waste.

Hawai'i has to be especially concerned with this. Landfills here are required to insulate such waste with liners to prevent the lead and other heavy metals in computer components from leaching into the groundwater; there are also collection basins to trap the leachate.

However, discarded computers — "e-waste" — also take up valuable landfill space.

That's why in 2006, a new law banned all but individual households from dumping their computers in the trash. Businesses and other large computer users now follow state Department of Health guidelines on recycling or use commercial recyclers.

But more options are needed to make it easier for individual consumers as well as businesses to keep hazardous e-waste out of the landfill.

This year, lawmakers took a step in the right direction. But more needs to be done.

A new law requires manufacturers that want to sell branded computers here to submit a plan by June 1 for taking back computers from consumers.

Although many companies have devised plans for e-waste programs in other states, the Hawai'i version will be more costly. Any revenue from recovering the valuable metals and plastics will be offset by the expense of transporting the computers to recyclers.

The companies must also pay an annual $5,000 registration fee to fund the state's administration of the program.

So the program likely will lead to a surcharge on computers to cover the costs.

Nonetheless, the state needs to remain committed to this effort as it refines the procedures so they work effectively for both consumers and manufacturers.

This next legislative session, DOH will present proposals that aim to strike that balance. Lawmakers should enable a range of options for manufacturers, especially in cases where the consumer lives on a Neighbor Island and additional freight expenses apply. Some companies might prefer to issue prepaid shipping labels, for example, or collaborate with others in islandwide collections.

In the meantime, consumers should exercise recycling options that are already available; the city's recycling Web site lists some of those (www.opala.org/solid_waste/archive/Computer_Recycling.html).

However, laws that put primary responsibility on manufacturers are the best approach to a difficult challenge. They will help drive the process of designing more ecologically friendly computers that are less burdensome for their makers to recycle.