11. Who should pay for recycling appliances after natural diasters?

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters result in the massive collection and recycling of "white debris" or destroyed appliances by governmental entities.  They contain hazardous materials that must be removed before they can be recycled for their scrap metal value.  The oils and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have to be evacuated by trained technicians.  Foam insulation has to be dealt with separately.  It's an  expensive process.  FEMA does assist communities with the cost of recycling white debris.  Yet today, taxpayers are demanding that manufacturers--and their shareholders--take-back and recycle their own products.  Should a recycling fee be collected at the point- of-sale for appliances to offset these expenses?  Who should pay these fees--manufacturers, purchasers, taxpayers or all of the above?  Perhaps the silver lining to appliance destruction from natural disasters is that some old energy hogs will be replaced with Energy Star appliances.  Remember, when old or damaged appliances have to be discarded, they must be recycled by trained technicians because they contain hazardous toxic chemicals. 

Note:
Picture: Marvin Nauman/FEMA  Katrina debris 2005