Best Buy Co. announces a pilot e-waste collection program in 117 stores accross eight states. According to an article from the Associated Press, consumers will be able to bring in two items per day to one of the participating locations, even if they were not originally purchased from a Best Buy. The initial program will include stores located in Northern California, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconson, Virgina, and Washington D.C. If successful, the company could expand the program to all 922 locations accross the United States.

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Best Buy locations in the program>>

E-waste may contain toxic substances like mercury, cadmium and lead. When e-waste is disposed into landfills, these toxins can be released into the atmosphere or seep into the soil. Additionally, most consumer electronics contain valuable materials like copper, gold and zinc that can and should be recycled.

CAW and E-Waste

• Our work on this issue
• Existing California E-Waste Laws
• Find a place near you to recycle your unwanted electronic items

California's leadership is again needed to advance a comprehensive solution to the e-waste disposal crisis both here and abroad. Even though California's E-waste Recycling Law (SB 20) helped establish an infrastructure and system for the recovery, reuse and recycling of one of the largest category of toxic electronics, the uncovered devices remain unregulated.

California has successfully curbed both the illegal disposal and export of covered electronics (TVs, computer monitors, laptop computers and other 'video display devices') and it's estimated that half will either be reused or recycled in the state today.

California's e-waste policy is also unique in that the statute explicitly prohibits the export of unprocessed e-waste to non-OECD countries (i.e. developing countries, including China). Some legal experts believe that State Governments may lack the legal authority to regulate exports. However, to address this contingency, California's law also requires recyclers participating in the program to 'demonstrate' that they are properly managing material consistent with California law, and that they are not sending unprocessed materials to non-OECD countries. This 'demonstration' is a condition of recyclers receiving payment, and for the most part appears to be working to curb exports, but only for the devices covered by SB 20.

While this policy appears to be working for covered devices, the crisis continues to grow with the close to 300,000 tons of e-waste not covered by SB 20 that continues to be illegally disposed of, despite a nearly two-year old landfill ban on e-waste. And because the recycling of these devices remains unregulated, it's likely that much of this e-waste continues to be exported to the developing world in violation of international treaty.

Sony announced last week that it will launch the "Sony Take Back Recycling Program" on September 15, allowing consumers to recycle their Sony products free of charge nationwide at 75 Waste Management Recycling America eCycling centers. With new technology becoming available more quickly these days, it allows for the build up of more unwanted electronics and a greater need for the responsible disposal of such products. Both Sony and Waste Management plan on expanding the program within the year to have drop off sites in all 50 states. For list of current locations, click here. Sony CEO and President Stan Glasgow is quoted in a ComputerWorld article as saying,

"Providing the highest level of service and support doesn't stop once a purchase is made. We believe it is Sony's responsibility to provide customers with end-of-life solutions for all the products we manufacture."

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What You Can Do

• Find a place near you to properly dispose of your unwanted e-waste.
• Learn more about CA's e-waste problem.

Starting August 1, British Columbia, Canada has been charging an advanced disposal fee on designated electronic products ranging from $10 (Canadian) to $45, depending on the product. Designated products include computers, laptops, printers, monitors and televisions. Because of the advanced fee, recycling of these products will be free to residents, who can turn in their unwanted e-waste to the current 70 recycled sites across the province. Cell phones, CD and DVD players are currently not included.

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In California, consumers are currently charged an advanced disposal fee on computers monitors, televisions including LCD and plasma screens, laptops and personal DVD players. The fess range from $6, $8 or $10 depending on screen size.

What You Can

• Learn more about CA's e-waste program.
• Find a place to properly dispose of your unwanted e-waste.