Best Buy Announces Consumer Electronics Recycling Program

Best Buy recently announced the launch of a consumer electronics recycling grant program to help increase the recycling opportunities available in communities across the country. The company says the new program is part of its commitment to help consumers nationwide make safe, responsible decisions when disposing of old and unwanted consumer electronics.

The program will provide two types of grants—the first will provide support for events hosted by 501(C)3 nonprofit organizations. The second will support events hosted by other organizations in cities and townships across the country (e.g., cities, counties, public-private partnerships). Grants will range from $500 to $1,500, depending on the size and scope of each organization???s event program and the recycling need in the area.

???As the largest retailer of consumer electronics, we have a responsibility to help consumers make smart decisions when disposing of e-waste,??? said Brenda Mathison, director, environmental affairs, Best Buy. ???The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that consumers will retire two million tons of e-waste this year—rom cell phones and rechargeable batteries to televisions, computers and appliances. We see this grant program as a way to extend our reach in communities, supporting local programs that touch all consumers and help ensure these items are properly handled.???

The recycling grant program joins a number of Best Buy programs that the company says have helped more consumers recycle e-waste than any other retailer in the United States, including:

Free recycling drop-off kiosks
You can find these kiosks just inside the door of every U.S. Best Buy store and drop off items for free. In 2006, Best Buy collected more than 90,000 pounds of old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and ink-jet cartridges.

Recycling events
Best Buy hosts and/or sponsor weekend recycling events in its store parking lots across the United States. Since 2001, these events have collected more than 5 million pounds of e-waste. In 2006, Best Buy sponsored or hosted 40 recycling events, collecting more than 1.8 million pounds of e-waste from consumers. This year Best Buy will hold events in Florida, Minnesota. Washington State, California, Massachusetts and several other states.

Services and haul-away programs
Best Buy says it recycled more than 13 million pounds of e-waste through its services and customer haul away programs in 2006. For a nominal fee, Best Buy will haul away and recycle your television, monitor, and appliances when new purchases from their stores are delivered to your home.

Mail-in cell phone recycling
New cell phone customers receive free, postage-paid envelopes to mail old phones to ReCellular, a cell phone reuse/recycling partner of Best Buy.

For more information on all Best Buy's recycling efforts, visit www.bestbuy.com/recycling.

Comments

[recycle phones]

Thats great, this type of programs really need to help in increase the recycling opportunities available among the people and its importance to our environment.