![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512154816im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
2008 Plug-In Partner Accomplishments
In 2008, Plug-In To eCycling partners collected and recycled more than 66.5 million pounds of used consumer electronics in the US. As a result of these electronics recycling efforts, partners conserved enough energy to power 14,500 US households with electricity for a year.
Learn more about each partner’s program and accomplishments
Since Plug-In To eCycling’s inception in 2003, partners' ecycling initiatives have expanded from event-based collections to include accessible electronics reuse and recycling programs that consumers can use daily. Plug-In To eCycling partners offer programs tailored to their products and customers.
AT&T 
provides in-store take back of any brand of cell phone, PDA and accessory at AT&T operated stores and participating authorized dealer stores across the US. It provides guidance to businesses or communities on holding cell phone recycling collection events. Proceeds from AT&T’s collection program support its Cell Phone for Soldiers program. In 2008, AT&T reused and recycled an estimated 4.5 million phones and recycled more than 1.3 million pounds of accessories and batteries, reflecting an increase of 15 percent for phones and 43 percent for accessories from 2007.
Best Buy is testing an in-store program where consumers can bring select consumer electronics to designated Best Buy locations for recycling. Best Buy launched the pilots on June 1, 2008 at 134 Best Buy locations located in 3 markets: the Bay Area, CA; Baltimore/DC, including MD and VA; and Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN; IA, ND, SD, and WI. Across the US, Best Buy offers consumers various opportunities to recycle consumer electronics. In 2008, Best Buy collected more than 39 million pounds from consumers, nearly double what it collected in 2007 and over five times as much as it collected in 2005.
In-store recycling kiosks are located in the vestibule of every Best Buy store, where customers and employees can recycle cellular devices, ink cartridges, CDs and DVDs, and rechargeable batteries at no cost. Its TV Haul-Away program removes a used or obsolete television at no charge from a consumer’s home when a new product is purchased and is delivered by Best Buy Home Delivery or Geek Squad. Best Buy also offers a Tech Trade-In service – a mail-in recycling program where consumers can download mailing labels from BestBuy.com and send unwanted or end-of-life computers, peripherals and other small electronic devices directly to the recycler.
Finally, in 2008, Best Buy held 33 recycling events in store parking lots, helped sponsor 22 local events, and provided 31 small grants to support recycling events, recycling programs, and local initiatives that promote electronics recycling.
Dell offers consumers worldwide free recycling for any Dell branded equipment at any time. Consumers can download a pre-paid mailing label from Dell’s Web site and ship their used Dell product in for recycling at no charge. In 2008, Dell partnered with Staples, where customers can now recycle any amount of Dell computers, printers, monitors or peripheral items for free at Staples’ approximately 1,500 US store locations, without needing to make a purchase. Dell also expanded its ReConnect alliance with Goodwill Industries, where consumers can drop off any brand of computer equipment for free recycling. ReConnect is now available in select Goodwill locations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the resale of donations support Goodwill's job creation programs. Dell also provides a donation option for used computers, where consumers can donate their computers to the National Cristina Foundation to help disadvantaged people in local communities. Dell collected and recycled approximately 226 million pounds globally between 2005 and 2008. Dell has made a public commitment to collect 275 million kilograms by 2009 and one billion pounds by the end of 2013.
HP reuses and recycles products that HP sells. For individual consumers this includes desktops, notebooks, monitors, phones, printers, all-in-ones, scanners, accessories as well as inkjet and laserjet cartridges. HP provides an online mailback recycling program, offers opportunities for consumers to trade-in, get cash back and/or donate their unwanted electronic equipment to charity, and conducts collection events throughout the US with retail partners, schools and customers. In 2008 HP conducted take back events for consumers with Wal-Mart, Staples, OfficeMax, Dreamworks, Disney and on multiple college campuses. HP reused or recycled more than 313 million pounds of hardware, inkjet cartridges, and laserjet cartridges from both individual and commercial customers. HP’s goal is to recover one billion pounds of electronic products and supplies between 2008 and the end of 2010.
Intel hosts community recycling collection events which provide households and small businesses an opportunity to drop-off their unwanted electronic equipment for recycling and also co-sponsors community e-waste collection events with manufacturers, governments and other organizations. In 2008, Intel hosted nine events at various locations in Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, and South Carolina, collecting more than 1.5 million pounds of used computers, televisions and other electronics. Additionally, Intel, in collaboration with education organizations, supports Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT). Since 1995, StRUT has worked to educate students while providing a mechanism for transferring used technology from the business sector to local schools in need of additional computers and related technology.
LG Electronics’ online take back program gives individuals the opportunity to recycle all brands of cell phones and accessories, PDAs, and GPS systems via a pre-paid mailer from LG’s Web site. Since LG launched its program just over a year ago, it has collected and recycled 27,436 pounds of used cell phones - representing over 109,000 cell phones and their accessories. In 2008, LG developed a partnership with Waste Management Inc. Now, more than 160 Waste Management drop-off locations across the US accept LG, Goldstar and Zenith brands of TVs, monitors, audio/video equipment, set-top boxes. Any brand of cell phone and associated accessory is accepted at no cost. LG is also launching a new retail take back program for select products as part of LG4U’s traveling mall, which will take place at select malls in the west, south, eastern US.
Motorola provides a downloadable pre-paid postage label from their Web site to mail in any brand of used mobile device for recycling at no cost to the consumer. Motorola’s Bag in a Box option also supplies a prepaid envelope enclosed with the purchase of a new Motorola cell phone. Motorola also sponsors Race to Recycle to accredited K-12 schools, where schools can raise funds by collecting any brand of cell phones for recycling. In 2008 Motorola recycled approximately 233,000 mobile devices.
NEC Display Solutions’ Total Trade Program, available to customers online since 2006, assesses the value of consumer’s used computer equipment towards the purchase of a new product. Total Trade offers individual consumers and businesses the opportunity to recycle their computers as part of an upgrade to new NEC Display Solutions displays.
Nokia offers free recycling of all brands of cell phones, other mobile devices, batteries and accessories via its online mailback program, in its flagship stores in NY and Chicago, and at all Nokia facilities and Cincinnati Bell Wireless Stores. Nokia also sponsors electronics collection events surrounding Earth Day and America Recycles Day, when it recycles additional consumer electronics such as computers and televisions. In 2008, Nokia recycled more than 315,000 pounds of electronics, which is twice the amount it recycled in 2007.
Office Depot’s Tech Recycling program collects used consumer electronics at all Office Depot retail locations in the US. Consumers can purchase boxes at Office Depot’s stores — small ($5), medium ($10) and large ($15) — to recycle their used computers, small televisions, peripherals, and other consumer electronics. Office Depot then sends the boxes on behalf of the consumer in for recycling. The program captured over 1.1 million pounds of electronics in 2008.
Palm collects and recycles all brands of cell phones, PDAs, and accessories via its online mailing program for free. Consumers can download and print a mailing label at no cost or use labels that are placed in new device packaging.
Panasonic joined with Sharp and Toshiba in 2008 to launch the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) , to collect and recycle used electronics, particularly televisions. MRM announced a new agreement with Goodwill Industries of Central Texas providing that end-of-life televisions from Panasonic, Sharp or Toshiba dropped off at any one of Goodwill’s 35 locations in central Texas will be responsibly recycled at no charge to the consumer. Thus far, the Goodwill Texas partnership has collected 21,400 pounds of used televisions. Panasonic also supports local collections, recycling nearly 2.8 million pounds of electronics from events in 2008.
Samsung collects televisions, monitors, cell phones, and other consumer electronic products that it manufactures. This year, it launched the Samsung Recycling Direct program to provide more than 170 locations throughout the US where consumers can drop off their electronic products for recycling. Samsung is also developing partnerships with retailers, namely its recent partnership with Walmart. Samsung’s Mobile Phone Take-Back Program provides a downloadable postage paid label from its Recycling Direct Web site for consumers to recycle any brand used cell phone. In 2008, Samsung recycled over 1.5 million pounds of used electronics.
Sharppartnered with Panasonic and Toshiba, in 2008, to launch the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) to collect and recycle used electronics. MRM, announced a recent agreement with Goodwill Industries of Central Texas in which end-of-life televisions from Panasonic, Sharp or Toshiba dropped off at any one of Goodwill’s 35 locations in central Texas will be responsibly recycled at no charge to the consumer. Thus far, the Goodwill Texas partnership has collected 21,400 pounds of used televisions. Additionally, Sharp supported local collection events and recycled nearly 118,000 pounds of Sharp electronics. Sharp also partnered with Panasonic in supporting local events in WV, NJ, and CT.
Sony expanded its partnership with Waste Management to more than 160 permanent collection depots across the US, offering year-round free recycling service for all Sony products and fee-based recycling for other brands. In 2008, Sony recycled more than 10.5 million pounds of used electronics through its partnership program with Waste Management and special collection events. In addition, Sony partnered with 36 retail stores to collect used electronics from customers and partnered with football stadiums, community centers, and once with Comedy Central to host different collection events. In total, Sony sponsored 71 unique collection event venues and filled 636 semi-trailers with used electronics to be recycled. Finally, Sony’s Notebook Trade-In program gives consumers possible credit towards the purchase of a new Sony Vaio laptop and the opportunity to recycle their used laptop.
Sony Ericsson Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (USA) Inc. held mobile phone collection events in the Carolinas at the WTA Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament, the Sony Ericsson City of Oaks Marathon, and the Rex Healthcare Half Marathon. In 2008, they expanded their recycling and take back program to offer consumers the opportunity to recycle any brand of mobile phone or accessory at no cost through their downloadable postage-paid shipping labels available from their Web site.
Sprint offers two cell phone recycling programs for consumers. First, Sprint Project ConnectSM is a free recycling service that is available to consumers for all brands of cell phones, batteries, accessories and data cards. Free postage-paid envelopes are available at any Sprint-owned retail store nationwide and in the box with most new phones that Sprint sells. In addition, free postage-paid mailing labels are available online on Sprint’s Web site. Second, the Sprint Buyback Program offers Sprint customers account credit for returning eligible Sprint and Nextel phones. Through these programs, Sprint increased its collection rate of cell phones for reuse or recycling by 18 percent. In addition, Sprint set a ten-year goal to achieve a cell phone collection rate for reuse and recycling that equals 90% of its annual phone sales by 2017.
Sprint’s cell phone recycling efforts also support community initiatives. All net proceeds from Sprint Project ConnectSM support Sprint's 4NetSafetyTM program in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the NEA Health Information Network, and others. In addition, Wipe Out Wireless Waste with Keep America Beautiful benefits green up and clean up efforts in local communities; Recycle for Victory benefits Victory Junction Gang Camp, a non-profit organization that provides camp experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses; and Sprint Interception with NFL Charities, Inc. benefits "at risk" youth through Youth Education Town or Boys & Girls Clubs.
Staples offers free recycling of cell phones, PDAs, and rechargeable batteries at any of their more than 1500 stores throughout the United States. For a $10 fee, customers can recycle their unwanted computers, laptops, printers, scanners, faxes, all-in-ones, CRTs monitors, and LCD monitors (computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, speakers and modems can be recycled for free with larger items) at any Staples store. In 2008, Staples partnered with Dell to offer free recycling of all Dell office technology (computers, monitors, and peripherals only) at all of its stores nationwide. Additionally, Staples offers free in-store collection of empty ink and toner cartridges, recycling over 24 million cartridges. Periodically, Staples sponsors electronics collection events. Staples collected and recycled approximately 6.2 millions pounds of products via its in-store take back program in 2008, nearly tripling what Staples collected from the program’s launch in May 2007 to the end of 2007.
T-Mobile’s Handset Recycling Program offers consumers four ways to donate and recycle used cell phones including: drop-offs at all T-Mobile locations, pre-paid mailing labels that can be downloaded from the Web, pre-paid bags sent directly to customers with their phone orders, and through sponsored local collection events. All of T-Mobile’s net proceeds from handset recycling benefit the charitable efforts of the T-Mobile Huddle Up program, a national community outreach program. In 2008, T-Mobile’s recycling program donated to after school programs in 15 cities across the US and increased their cell phone recycling rate by 20 percent compared to the previous year.
Toshiba's free mail back recycling and trade-in service for most home electronics allows consumers to download a free shipping label from Toshiba’s Web site to recycle any brand of computer and small mobile device. Toshiba also provides an option for consumers to trade in used products for cash. In 2008, Toshiba partnered with Panasonic and Sharp to launch the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) , to collect and recycle used electronics, particularly televisions. In 2008, Toshiba helped to recycle an estimated 1.5 million pounds of unwanted electronics.
Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program collects used wireless phones, batteries and accessories, in any condition from any wireless service provider at its Communications Stores nationwide. Phone donations are also accepted through postage paid envelopes, downloadable labels available on the company’s Web site, and through partnerships for HopeLine phone drives. Devices that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are recycled. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and financial grants to hundreds of local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.
Walmart is partnering with Samsung through their Samsung Recycling Direct Program to enable consumers to recycle Durabrand and Ilo products (two private brands formerly sold by Walmart), including televisions, audio players, and DVD hardware, for free at 174 drop-off locations across the country. Walmart and Sam’s Club also offer free cell phone and ink cartridge recycling via a prepaid mail program. In late 2008, Sam’s Club began testing an online trade-in and recycling solution for its members for all electronic products and monitors under 17 inches, in which members receive a portion of the item’s residual value on a Walmart/Sam’s gift card. If the member’s item does not have a residual value, then the member is allowed to mail-in the item for recycling without any shipping charges. Weekend take back events also occur at various Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout the year in partnership with community groups and municipalities to help drive awareness to the 140+ million customers/members that shop at their stores each week.