There are many laws regarding waste disposition and trade.
First, e-waste is considered hazardous waste and its trade is strictly controlled by the more than 180 countries that have ratified the Basel Convention.
Second, even in the US, if electronic waste is not managed in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, it can be considered a hazardous waste and your company could ultimately be responsible for illegal waste management, just by handing over your e-waste to the wrong recyclers. Many states are now passing legislations to make it illegal for certain kinds of e-waste to go into their landfill. In addition, you could be liable for illegal storage or management under State laws.
Finally, there are some very important new laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, HIPAA, and FACTA that place strict liabilities on medical and financial institutions for data losses. By not using proper recyclers or asset management companies, your company could be vulnerable to legal liabilities costing millions of dollars.
Fortunately, certified e-Stewards recyclers are audited to ensure that they have systems in place to not only stay up-to-date on all applicable laws, but also to implement them giving you peace of mind for your asset disposition.