What is Takeback and Why is it Important?


Why Takeback?

The Electronics TakeBack Coalition encourages the electronics manufacturers to offer programs to take back and recycle our old electronics for several reasons:

Takeback keeps toxic TVs out of the landfills.  Currently, about 85% of the old electronics that we dispose of in the US end up in our landfills each year.  But TVs and other electronics don’t belong in our landfills, even if it is still legal in many states to trash old TVs. The toxics in TVs can leach into and contaminate groundwater and surface streams. Plus, there are many metals and other materials in these products which should be recycled, not trashed. Learn more about toxics in TVs.

Takeback means responsible recycling.  If the companies are responsible for taking back and recycling our old products, we think it’s more likely (although not automatic) that they will follow responsible recycling practices – and not simply export and dump these old products.  Learn more about global e-waste dumping.

Takeback can lead to better product design. If the electronics companies have to pay for collecting and recycling our old products (in large numbers), they have a strong incentive for figuring out how to make these products easier to recycle. Clearly, when they have no responsibility for what happens to their obsolete products, then they have zero incentive to design for recycling.  Learn more about how TVs are not designed for recycling. 

New TV technology is driving obsolescence. We are seeing new technology developed in the TV sector all the time. While for decades, we all watched CRT (tube) TVs, now there are many types of flat panel  and other TV technology (LCD, Plasma, DLP, OLED) and new ones on the horizon.  High Definition signal is another new technology driving sales of new TVs.  Consumers toss out their obsolete products in favor of the one featuring the new technology.  We believe that the companies who are selling the new products should take back the old ones.

Who Has Takeback Programs?

Most of the computer companies have offered takeback programs for a few years now, where they will take back their old products from consumers for recycling.

But the TV companies have been slow to embrace the concept of “producer takeback.” In fact, they have opposed it. Until recently, virtually all of the TV companies were members of a national lobbying coalition that opposed state or federal legislation that would give the electronics companies any responsibility for paying for recycling their old products.  Instead, they supported legislation that would charge consumers recycling fees (like the California program) but that left them off the hook. This coalition has been led by Panasonic, Sharp and Philips, who have lobbied vigorously in many state legislatures on this issue. 

But some TV companies are now starting to offer free recycling to consumers. Our new TV Recycling Report Card grades these companies on their takeback programs..

Click here to learn more about the company programs.

Click here to view the TV Recycling Report card.

About the TV Industry

While only a handful of computer companies comprise most of the sales of computers in this country, the TV market is much more competitive, with many more players. There are no longer any US based television companies – US brands have all been sold to or licensed to other manufacturers. The  Japanese TV companies like Sony, Panasonic and Sharp who once dominated the market, now face strong competition from the Korean companies (Samsung and LG) plus the growing number of Chinese and Taiwanese companies who manufacture most of the house brands for electronics retailers, like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Radio Shack. By focusing on sales of lower priced products sold at big box stores like Costco and Walmart, Taiwan based Vizio has seen explosive sales numbers, leading all companies in one quarter in 2007. 

Click here to learn more about the industry and find out where your TV comes from.

Responsible Recyling

TVs and other electronics don’t belong in our landfills – even though it’s legal in many states to trash your old electronics.  The toxics in these products can leach into the groundwater and surface water over time, plus there are useful materials in electronics that can be recovered through recycling. But how can you tell if your local recycler is a responsible recycler, and isn’t simply exporting your old TV to some developing country around the globe?

Click here to learn more.