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USA Environment Agency to Promote Recycling of Consumer Electronics
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The USA's Environmental Protection Agency has launched a Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge, an initiative to make protective electronics refurbishing and recycling practices the industry standard.
EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response Lisa Feldt was joined by representatives from Best Buy, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sprint, and Staples when making the announcement.
"Already, the United States generates almost 2.5 million tons of electronic waste per year -- and that number will only grow. Used electronics have materials in them that can be recovered and recycled, reducing the economic costs and environmental impacts of securing and processing new materials for new products," said EPA Administrator Lisa. P. Jackson. "The SMM Electronics Challenge will help us ensure that we are doing all we can to repurpose or safely dispose of the cell phones, computers and other devices we use every day -- all while helping to build a robust market for electronics recycling in the United States."
As the volume of used electronics continues to grow in the U.S. and the world, so has the importance of safely managing and recycling used electronics. Electronics are made of valuable resources such as precious metals, copper, plastic and glass -- all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling or reusing these electronics conserves these materials and prevents greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.
By participating in the SMM Electronics Challenge, consumer electronics suppliers are committing to send the entirety of the used electronics that they collect to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers and to increase the amount of used electronics they collect.
In order to be certified, recyclers must demonstrate to an accredited, independent auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage used electronics.
Tags: [USA]
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