CEA Praises Best Buy for Recycling Initiative
Consumer Electronics Association, As You Sow Salute Consumer-Electronics Retailer
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/3/2008 8:03:00 AM
The Consumer Electronics Association Monday praised Best Buy for its test of a free electronics-recycling program that it said expands on its existing recycling efforts.
One of the nation's largest electronics retailers, Best Buy said it will test the program in 117 stores.
Stores in the Baltimore (including stores in Washington and the D.C. and Maryland suburbs), San Francisco and Minnesota markets will begin accepting up to two units per day free-of-charge. The items can include TVs with screens up to 32 inches, computers, phones, cameras and peripherals.
"The CEA is thrilled that Best Buy has taken this next step to explore how to make electronics recycling more accessible and convenient for consumers,” said Parker Brugge, vice president of environmental affairs and corporate sustainability.
Consumer groups have been concerned that there could be a flood of TVs going to landfills with the cutoff of analog next year, and they have been pushing retailers to step up recycling efforts.
Corporate-accountability group As You Sow filed a shareholder proposal with Best Buy last fall suggesting the free take-back test, so it was understandably pleased with the news, as well.
“We salute Best Buy for taking the initiative to test free electronics take-back at a significant number of its stores,” said Conrad MacKerron, director of As You Sow’s corporate social-responsibility program, in a statement. “Making electronics recycling almost as easy as purchasing these goods has the potential to simplify recycling efforts for millions of consumers who may be confused about where to recycle goods in their area.”
