Survey Finds E-Scrap Recycling Lagging

A report, conducted by Kelton Research, finds that only 23 percent of Americans recycle their obsolete electronic equipment, and 41 percent either dispose of or store them. The report was sponsored by Staples.

To combat the low numbers, Staples notes that is promoting its in-store collection program it has at its 1,400 stores throughout the country. The program, begun this past May, gives consumers the opportunity to deliver any computer and office technology equipment to the store and have them recycled. There is a $10 fee to drop off the material.

"Between 2000 and 2007, an estimated 500 million computers became obsolete in the U.S.," said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs at Staples. "Providing options for technology recycling is an important way that Staples makes it easy to make a difference for the environment—what we call EcoEasy. We know that many businesses and consumers want eco-friendly options, so we’re helping them move from thinking about it to taking some action."

In addition, Staples provides free in-store recycling for cell phones, PDAs, pagers, digital cameras, chargers and rechargeable batteries. Staples has teamed up with Collective Good, which refurbishes products where feasible or recycles them and donates a portion of the proceeds to charity.