SONY Electronics is launching the first plan in the U.S. to take-back its electronics equipment from individuals for recycling. During a successful pilot program they collected almost 600 tons of used equipment in Minnesota. The plan allows Minnesota state residents to recycle all their discarded Sony products at no cost for the next five years.
Individuals will be able to drop off old Sony products at Waste Management Inc. sites around the state at least one designated day each month. Sony will cover the costs of recovering the equipment. The program may be expanded if other manufacturers participate and if retailers agree to act as drop-off sites.
IBM Corp. has made electronics take-back available to large corporations since 1985. Now, for $29.99 (including shipping), individuals and small businesses can recycle any manufacturer’s computer equipment. The equipment will be sent to Envirocycle, a designated recycling center, where it will either be refurbished and donated to Gifts in Kind International – which donates to schools, libraries, charities – or it will be recycled. Customers will be given recycling information when they purchase an IBM computer. For now, information is also on IBM’s website
Leading electronics manufacturers have been fighting the impending WEEE directive (European Commission Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment), which would require them to take financial responsibility for their products throughout their lifecycle. The Netherlands already has nation-wide take back; consumer electronics recycling will be mandated in Japan in April 2001. Even now, Sony gives some European customers credit towards a new monitor if they bring the old one in to be recycled. The U.S. has aggressively campaigned against Europe’s WEEE directive, calling it a barrier to international free trade.
A National Safety Council Environmental Health Center study estimates that 20.6 million personal computers became obsolete in the U.S. in 1998 but only 2.3 million (11%), were recycled. By 2004, they expect 315 million additional computers to be outdated.
Minnesota Recycling Project: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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