JR from Oceanside emailed 10News asking about a $6.00 electronics recycling fee he was charged when he bought a digital picture frame at Wal-Mart.

"I have never taken electronics or observed anyone else take them to Wal-Mart for recycling," JR writes. "Where does the $6.00 go? Is it going into Wal-Mart’s pockets, or are they donating funds to local recycling plants for electronics recycling costs?"

The 10News i-Team checked out JR’s claims and found the fees are legitimate.

Under California’s Hazardous Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, retailers collect e-waste recycling fees at the time the electronic item is purchased. Retailers collect the fees, which range from $6 to $10 and forward them to the State Board of Equalization.

According to the State Board of Equalization the purpose of the law "is to enact a comprehensive and innovative system for the reuse, recycling, and proper and legal disposal of covered electronic devices, and to provide incentives to design electronic devices that are less toxic, more recyclable, and that use recycled materials."

So the next time you buy a digital camera, a TV or any other electronic device, be prepared to pay a little extra to recycle e-waste and protect the environment.