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Panasonic Hides From Zombies, but Says They Will Launch National Recycling Program in Three Years
Posted on October 30, 2008
A swarm of TV Zombies from the Electronics TakeBack Coalition visited Panasonic’s Secaucus, N.J. corporate headquarters today, to urge Panasonic to launch a national recycling program for old TVs. Panasonic refused to talk to the group, or to even receive the letter they were delivering.
Learning yesterday of the Zombies planned visit, Panasonic and Sharp put out a press statement this morning saying that their recycling company, MRM, would be launching a national takeback program sometime in the next three years. They will add collection in eight more states (in addition to current operations in Minnesota and Texas) in November, although some of those states have passed laws requiring them to offer recycling.
“Since just a month ago, Panasonic and Sharp said they had no plans for a national program, this is a step in the right direction,” said Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. “But if you announce that you are launching a national program, it would seem like you should have plans to operate in all 50 states. We think they should have recycling in 50 states by the time of the digital conversion deadline, in February, 2009.”
ETBC has also asked Panasonic and Sharp to sign its “Manufacturer’s Commitment to Responsible Recycling” which says they will not export toxic electronic waste to developing nations. Neither company has signed this agreement.
Link to Panasonic’s announcement.
Press Coverage
A Program to Certify Electronic Waste Recycling Rivals an Industry-U.S. Plan
New York Times04-15-10 -- In addition to outlining safe domestic handling and disposal practices for old televisions, computers and other electronic devices, the system would effectively bar participating recyclers from exporting toxic, nonfunctional electronic waste to developing nations. The program will compete directly with a less stringent standard recently developed by industry and the federal government that companies and recyclers say makes more economic sense.
Electronics Recycling - Who’s Responsible?
Recycling Today12-29-09 -- As the lawsuit challenging New York City’s electronics take-back law prepares for opening arguments in mid-January, industry associations and electronics recycling advocates wonder what effect the court’s ruling will have on the future of producer responsibility.
A Green Way to Dump Low-Tech Electronics
The New York Times06-30-09 -- The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 99.1 million televisions sit unused in closets and basements across the country. Consumer response to recycling has been enormous in states where the laws have taken effect.
