EPA recognizes companies for electronics recycling efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized a number of manufacturers and retailers for their efforts in growing electronics recycling under the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge.  

The EPA recognized Best Buy, Dell, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Sprint and Staples in Washington at a ceremony to celebrate their environmental achievements, which include diverting more than 220,000 metric tons of used electronics to third-party certified recyclers in 2013—an increase of 7.6 percent since 2012.

“Electronics are made of valuable resources, such as precious metals, copper, plastic and glass, all of which require energy to extract and manufacture,” says Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Improper handling of discarded electronics can result in serious health consequences to communities and workers. The efforts by these leaders to collect, track and recycle used electronics is a great step towards addressing these public health concerns, conserving materials and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The EPA also recognized Best Buy, Dell, Sprint and Samsung as SMM Electronics Champions for demonstrating significant environmental, social and economic outcomes for their organizations and the public that go beyond the requirements of the SMM Electronics Challenge.

The EPA says that by participating in the SMM Electronics Challenge, companies involved in the electronics industry are rethinking business as usual as they commit to increasing the amount of used electronics they collect and sending 100 percent of used electronics to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers. Through the challenge, the EPA says it is providing a transparent and measurable way for companies to endorse safe and environmentally protective practices for the refurbishment and recycling of used electronics and to publicly show progress toward recycling goals. 

In the November 2010 Presidential Proclamation for America Recycles Day, President Obama established the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship with the EPA as one of the lead agencies. The task force released the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship report in 2011 that outlined the federal government's plan to enhance the management of electronics throughout the product life cycle—from design to eventual recycling or disposal of a product.