EUGENE — Legislation passed last year means recycling centers across Oregon will accept desktop computers, monitors, laptops and televisions free of charge beginning Jan. 1.

Any company that makes computers and TVs sold in Oregon must register with the state and pay a fee, generating an anticipated $350,000 to $400,000 in revenue.

Manufacturers can set up their own recycling systems, and giants such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell already have applied to do so.

But Lorraine Kerwood, founder of Eugene’s NextStep Recycling, said the program provides an incentive for scrapping old gadgets without considering reuse.

Recycling consumes 20 times as much energy as reuse, Kerwood said. NextStep Recycling collects used electronics to make and sell refurbished computers, cell phones, radios and other devices.