January 13, 2006—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that collaboration with its 21 Plug-In To eCycling partners over the last three years has resulted in the safe recycling of more than 60 million pounds of old electronics.
EPA recognized the collaborative and individual efforts of the Plug-In partners in 2005 at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 7 in Las Vegas.
Through EPA’s Plug-In program, manufacturers and retailers work together to raise public awareness on electronics reuse and recycling and to create more take-back opportunities for consumers and businesses. Plug-In partners include: Best Buy; Cingular Wireless; Dell; eBay’s Rethink Initiative; Hewlett Packard; Intel; JVC; Lexmark; NEC; Panasonic; Philips; Sharp; Sony; Samsung; and Staples.
According to EPA, Americans discard approximately 2 million tons of used electronics, including computers and televisions, each year. In addition, an estimated 128 million cell phones are retired from use annually.
