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Extended Producer Responsibility
The Electronics TakeBack Coalition supports the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which means that companies should take responsibility for their products throughout their lifecycle, providing “cradle to cradle” management which includes taking back and recycling their products.
>>More information about extended producer responsibility policy
Pressuring for Corporate Accountability
While we pursue policy and legislation that requires electronics manufacturers and brand owners to take responsibility for their products, we also pressure the computer and television companies directly to take the lead in solving the e-waste problem by establishing strong takeback programs with responsible recycling, and by designing cleaner products - ones that both use safer, less toxic materials, and which are designed to last longer, and to be easier and cheaper to recycle.
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Corporate Campaign News:
Sony Announces Free Takeback
Sony Electronics USA has launched the first such takeback program for any television company in the US.
Sony will take back any used product with Sony’s name on it, at no cost to consumers, and will eventually reach a goal of recycling a pound of old electronics for every new pound of products sold. This goal exceeds the goal in the law passed by Minnesota (of .6 lbs) which has been criticized by some television companies.
Sony has launched the program on Sept 15, 2007, with only 75 collection sites in the US. They say they hope to double the number of sites in the first year.
>>More information on Sony
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We Want First Rate Electronics Recycling Programs
We want the electronics companies to implement voluntary, ongoing programs to take back our old products when we are done with them. (We don't consider hosting occasional collection events to be a takeback program.)
First rate takeback programs include the following:
| Components of a Good Takeback and Recycling Program |
| Easy to use |
It should be as easy to return the product for recycling as it was to buy it. If companies sell products through their own retail outlets, they should take them back that way, also. |
| Free |
Most people won't pay to recycle their products, especially since it's free and legal to trash it in most states. |
| All products |
Companies should take back everything they sell |
| Any time |
While some companies link their take back to purchasing new products, we think companies should take back any of their products at any time. |
| Reuse First |
Companies should reuse or refurbish returned products as much as possible. Reuse creates jobs, prolongs the life of existing products, reduces the amount of resources needed for new products, including energy. Many reuse organizations can get products like computers to underserved populations, schools, and non-profits. |
| Responsible recycling |
For products that can't be reused, the recycling process should only include vendors who follow the highest standards for environmental protection and worker health and safety. Since there is currently no accredited certification program with high standards for electronics recyclers, we support the use of recyclers who have signed on to the Electronics Recyclers Pledge of True Stewardship.
>> More info on the Pledge |
| No Export to Developing Countries |
Electronics companies need to be sure that their vendors are not using recyclers who send their toxic e-waste to developing countries.
>> More info on the problems of exporting e-waste |
| No prison labor |
Electronics companies need to be sure that their vendors are not using recyclers who use prison labor.
>> More info on the problems with prison labor in recycling |
| No incineration or landfill |
Toxic e-waste should not be placed in municipal landfills or incinerators, including waste-to-energy incinerators. |
| Audit recycled materials down the line |
When electronics products enter the recycling stream, they are taken apart and usually shredded, and the various groups of materials (plastics, metals, etc) are then sent/sold to different vendors who process the various materials. It's crucial that the takeback company is auditing ALL of these vendors (not just the first tier handler) to be sure that all of them are following responsible recycling procedures, including not exporting their toxic e-waste to developing countries.
>> More info on the problems with exporting hazardouse e-waste |
| Goals and Promotion |
Companies should actively promote their takeback programs, with marketing and easy-to-find information. They should also set clear and escalating annual goals for how much they want to take back each year. |
| Reporting |
Companies should provide detailed and transparent reporting on how their programs are doing - in meeting their goals, on collection and recycling rates, and who their vendors are. |
 Need to recycle your old computer?
Find out which computer companies will take back your old computer in our report and how the electronics companies measure up on recycling their E-Waste. This report tells you who offers what services, how to use them, and how to get free recycling.
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