Aug 26 2008
The nationwide electronics recycling program launched this month by LG Electronics USA Inc. is being expanded in the coming weeks to include drop-off sites on all 50 states, the company said today at an electronics recycling policy luncheon during the Democratic National Convention.
Designed to offer consumers a responsible way to recycle tens of millions of unwanted television sets, computer monitors and other consumer electronics products, the LG Electronics Recycling Program (http://www.LGusa.com/green) was launched Aug. 1 in cooperation with Waste Management's subsidiary WM Recycle America LLC.
At today's briefing hosted by Best Buy Inc., LG Electronics joined the Electronics Take Back Coalition, the Product Stewardship Institute and others in supporting a framework for federal E-waste legislation. LG Electronics embraced the group's core principles that include encouraging electronics recycling, calling for shared responsibility and seeking establishment of a sustainable recycling infrastructure at the federal, state and local level.
The company also updated lawmakers on its program that provides consumers with a convenient way of recycling their used, unwanted, obsolete or damaged consumer electronic products by dropping them off at one of 160 Waste Management eCycling Center locations across the country.
"The explosive growth of electronics products over the years, coupled with the rapid replacement of tens of millions of analog TVs as consumers upgrade to flat-panel HDTVs underscores the need for companies like LG to provide responsible end-of-life solutions," said LG Electronics USA President Teddy Hwang. "As our program expands across the country, we are committed to encouraging consumers to recycle unused electronics in a responsible manner."
Under the LG Electronics program, products recycled free-of-charge include LG, Zenith and Goldstar brands of televisions, monitors, audio equipment, video cassette players and recorders, DVD players and recorders, combination TV/VCR and TV/DVD units, set top boxes and accessories associated with those products. The LG-WM Recycle America program also allows consumers to recycle other manufacturers' consumer electronics products for a modest fee.
"People are seeking services to help them recycle electronic waste responsibly and economically," said Patrick DeRueda, president of WM Recycle America. "This program serves consumers' needs by offering a convenient and cost-effective waste management solution, while demonstrating our shared commitment to providing outstanding customer service and leadership in environmental stewardship."
Here's how the program works:
- Consumers may drop off up to five LG, Zenith or GoldStar-brand items at a time. To locate the nearest recycling center, consumers may call toll free, 1-877-439-2795. A list of drop-off locations for the LG Electronics Recycling program is available at http://www.wm.com/wm/takeback/locationlist.xls.
- For no-fee recycling, consumers also may mail products to WM Recycle America eCycling locations in Minneapolis, Denver, Oklahoma City and Springfield, Mass.
- LG mobile phones and other handheld devices, as well as LG home appliances are covered by other take-back and recycling programs. Mobile phone recycling information is available at: http:us.lge.com/about/mobile_recycle_program.jsp. (Under LG's mobile phone recycling program, any brand of cell phone, GPS unit or PDA device may be dropped off at WM Recycle America locations. Waste Management will ship those items to LG Electronics' recycler for recycling.)
- Appliance recycling information is available at http://www.aham.org.
The electronic materials collected for LG will be processed in an environmentally responsible manner at Waste Management facilities that are ISO 14001 and 9001 certified. That protects the local environment in those communities along with the people handling this waste.
A goal of the LG-WM Recycle America program is to have a recycling center within 20 miles of 95 percent of Congressional Districts.
LG Electronics also plans to participate in a similar E-waste public policy forum at next week's Republican National Convention in St. Paul/Minneapolis.