When it comes to e-waste recycling, most electronics retailers aren’t just struggling; they’re downright failing. At least according to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, which took the industry to task in a recent report.
According to the group’s “report card“, the vast majority of companies have a long way to go in establishing simple, effective systems to collect e-waste from consumers.
Amazon, Walmart and Costco were just a few of the retailers singled out for their low-performing programs. Two of the businesses examined by TakeBack Coalition – Newegg and Costco – have no e-waste recycling plans in place at all.
Large electronic retailers sell millions of products, including mobile devices, televisions, and computers, to consumers annually, giving them a huge influence in the industry’s overall sustainability. But year after year, the industry approach toward recycling e-waste remains ham-fisted.
The stagnant e-waste programs are a wasted opportunity: A robust recycling program can yield financial rewards, happier employees and greater consumer traffic, industry observers say.
“It behooves retailers to make it easier for consumers to recycle if just for the purely selfish reason of capturing more business,” said Pamela J. Gordon, president of Technology Forecasters. “It gets the customer back in the store to upgrade whatever they are recycling. Once they are back in the store, they could also buy an unrelated item. Retailers always want people to come in their stores and recycling is a great excuse to do it.”
Source: The Guardian
By Jennifer Inez Ward