29 Jul FAIL: Most Retailers Refuse to Recycle E-waste

Texas Campaign for the Environment sent out an informal survey earlier this month and an overwhelming 97% of respondents to agreed that "YES!" retailers should help make it as easy to recycle old electronics as it is to purchase new products. So as the next step, their partners at the national Electronics TakeBack Coalition have evaluated all the major electronics retailers to see which ones are living up to this goal by providing free, convenient recycling programs for their customers.

The report card is done and the grades are back: A few retailers are doing well, but most flunked the test. Only Best Buy, Staples, Office Max and Office Depot earned passing grades. Target and Radio Shack came close, each getting a D. However, giant companies like Walmart, Amazon, Sears and Costco each got a big fat F. Overall, 9 of the 16 retailers that were evaluated have no real recycling programs. You can click here to see the report card and learn more.

Tell electronics retailers: Take it back and recycle responsibly

It’s time for these failing retailers to step up and start taking some responsibility for their role in the e-waste problem. They are selling us billions of dollars in electronics, but most are doing nothing to help us recycle them. Walmart, for example, sold over $20 billion in electronics in the U.S. in 2012. They have 3,742 stores, in all 50 states. Millions of people are buying their electronics there. As you know, TCE has been urging Walmart to start recycling—that would be a huge boost to the current e-waste collection infrastructure. Please click here to send your message to the failing retailers, urging them to help recycle old electronics.

You can also vote with your dollars and use existing recycling programs. As consumers, we should give our business to the retailers who are doing the right thing, and helping us recycle. Why should we support the laggards, who are sitting on the sidelines and letting Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot do all the work? Here's  a consumer guide to using retailers' recycling programs. In addition, Texas has state laws requiring electronics manufacturers to help recycle their products as well. Here are other options you have to recycle your e-waste. We’d like to see the retailers partner with some of the manufacturers, particularly the TV companies, who always struggle to create collection opportunities for their recycling programs.

Editors Notes: E-Waste is a huge problem with American consumption. How can you help to kick the habit? Try tuning out…from television and commercials that is. When you don't find yourself absolutely having to have a new cell phone – because you don't know they released a new one – you might be amazed at how great your existing phone still is. Try counting how many times friends, coworkers, and family talk about "the brand news" or "must haves" in a month, week, or day, and you will start to catch on to how much this advertising for excess has permeated our culture. Once you don't want, you won't waste. Also, sign that petition above. Thanks. – Dawnielle