18 Apr Moving the Giant – Getting Walmart to Recycle
Today Walmart released its 2012 Global Responsibility Report, which touted waste reduction as its #1 achievement in 2011. But despite the thousands of letters you and other TCE supporters have sent the company, Walmart has still not agreed to start recycling old electronics. We need you to help step up the pressure now!
Take action through social media: Post a message today on Walmart’s “What’s on Your Mind” Facebook page calling on the company to take back e-waste for recycling. This link will take you to Walmart's customer feedback page. You can post the following message, or paraphrase it in your own words:
"I am contacting Walmart to request electronic waste recycling options nationwide, something that Best Buy already does. Over 25,000 people have already sent letters to your company asking for this program, yet all you have responded with is a limited trade-in program. When will you do something to offer all your customers free and convenient recycling for their old electronics?"
Why Walmart?
Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, and 13% of its sales comes from entertainment products such as TVs, computers, monitors and iPads. Walmart needs to step up to the plate–it should be just as easy to recycle old electronics as it is to purchase new ones.
TCE began the "Take it Back Walmart" campaign in the fall of 2011, and we're already seeing the company start to respond. Last week Walmart decided to re-launch its trade-in program so customers who buy new electronics can trade in their obsolete products at the same time. (Unfortunately this program only covers small electronics like MP3 players and cell phones.) This is a step forward, and it shows that your letters are having an impact, but it's certainly not enough. We need Walmart to match Best Buy and start offering free electronics recycling for everyone.
Please take action today, and be sure to encourage others to do the same: Forward this to a friend and post it on your own favorite social media sites!
Robin Schneider
Executive Director
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