A first-in-the-nation law went into effect Wednesday in Maine, requiring makers of televisions and computer monitors to pick up the tab to recycle and safely dispose of their products once they are discarded.

Under the law, manufacturers must shoulder the cost of sending electronics to recycling centers.

Jim Cohen, mayor of Portland, Maine, touted the new law Wednesday.

Until now, Maine communities charged people $15 to $20 to dispose of their electronic gear. Under the new law, consumers can drop off their TVs and computer screens for $2 apiece.