Sony starts saving the world, one VAIO at a time
After ranking dead last in a March Greenpeace electronics recycling report, Sony thought it might be a good idea to give consumers a free place to recycle Sony branded products. Starting September 15th US consumers will be able to bring their used Sony products to an eCycling center run by Waste Management.
This is a big step for Sony. Greenpeace’s report cited the company for its non-existent take back standards and for being part of a coalition that has been opposing producer responsibility in recycling in the US. Martyn Williams from Macworld UK explains the need for tougher electronic recycling standards:
The issue of electronic waste is growing in importance as the number of gadgets increases and their price comes down. Today, faulty electronics products are more usually junked than repaired and it’s increasingly common for users to replace products not because they are old but because a more attractive product comes along.
In 2005, between 1.9 million and 2.2 million tons of electronics products were discarded in the US of which the vast majority was dumped in landfill sites. As little as 345,000 tons was recycled, according to a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The Sony Take Back Recycling Program will be offered through 75 drop-off locations in the US. Initially these centers will be located in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The option to ship used products to Sony is said to be coming soon.
Within the year, Sony intends to expand it to include about 150 drop-off points. They state their long term goal is to have a center within 20 miles of 95 per cent of the US population.
Toner manufacturers have had mail-back programs for years. It is good to see electronics makers start to take some responsibility for their own products.
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August 19th, 2007
How long will it take the other electronics manufacturers to do something similar? And repeat it elsewhere in the world?
Any relatively affluent country is going to be facing the same problem of redundant technology being dumped into landfill.
Surely we can be smarter than this?