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 this year by Minnesota (of .6 lbs) which has been criticized by several television companies as being too high.

Sony 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. Sony has contracted with Waste Management's Recycle America subsidiary to handle the recycling.

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TV Industry Lobbies Against Takeback Legislation
While several computer companies, such as Dell, HP and Apple, have established voluntary takeback programs, Sony is the first television company to launch an on-going program in the United States for all of their products. This is even more significant because in many states, the TV manufacturers have lobbied vigorously against legislation that would require them to pay for just his kind of e-waste recycling programs.

Led by Panasonic, Sharp, and Philips, a coalition of TV companies continues to lobby against e-waste bills that call for “producer responsibility,” instead supporting bills that make consumers pay recycling fees, like in California. Sony had been part of that lobbying coalition, but has withdrawn (along with LG, Samsung, and IBM).

Link to Sony's Recycling website with a list of collection sites.