BEST-BUY NOW ACCEPTS E-WASTE IN 9 MARKETS AND 117 STORES

[Anonymous]

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007051.html
Best Buy Now Accepts E-Waste in Nine Markets and 117 Stores
Getting
rid of your old PC, TV and that hulking CRT monitor can be a digital
pain in the you know what. Best Buy wants to help. The consumer
electronics giant announced a pilot program that allows anyone to drop
off computers, cameras, cell phones, TVs and computer monitors (up to
32 inches) at Best Buy stores. Best Buy is first rolling out the
program in Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin,
Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and Northern California. You are
limited to two items a day.The new program will not include console
TVs, air conditioners, microwaves or kitchen appliances. However the
company does point out it has several ‘haul away’ programs to deal with
larger appliances.If successful, the company says it plans to roll out
the recycling program across all 922 U.S. stores, according to reports.

E-Waste Overload
The
new program came about after As You Sow, an advocacy group for
corporate accountability, pushed Best Buy’s shareholders to endorse
increased recycling efforts by the retail giant.Best Buy has offered
recycling bins for small items such as cell phone batteries and ink
cartridges since 2004, and, like many other retailers, has had in-store
recycling events since 2001. The new pilot program is assumed to be the
largest recycling effort for electronics by a major U.S. retailer. You
can find a complete list of areas where the new recycling program is
running here.As February 17, 2009, when all TV signals will go digital
and analog TVs become obsolete, many consumers are expected to opt for
a new television instead of converting their existing sets. No doubt
Best Buy hopes to capitalize on the expected TV sales boom by bringing
customers into the store with the new recycling program.Recycling
electronics has become a major concern for manufacturers and retailers
because many devices contain harmful toxins and heavy metals such as
lead, mercury and zinc. According to the latest statistics from the
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. dumped 2 million tons of
electronics into landfills in 2005 and electronic waste is the fastest
growing form of waste in the country.

[Author]

June 4, 2008 at 12:42 PM