Electronic waste is a huge problem, both in terms of land pollution and the
resulting loss of natural areas which absorb greenhouse gases. As a leading
consumer and disposer of electronic equipment, the United States should lead the
world in the safe and sustainable disposal of electronic waste. The opposite is
true. Even worse is the fact that much of the electronic waste which is recycled
winds up sold to unscrupulous disposal firms which often incinerate the waste,
pumping unspeakable quantities of toxins into the air, or dumped in rivers,
either on American soil or overseas.
Regulatory bodies have begun to intervene in the disposal of electronic waste in
order to assure proper dismantling and component recycling but much more needs
to be done in order to capture electronic waste at its source, the curbside
residential collection site and the dumpster. Until we capture more there, we
will fail to address electronic waste in a meaningful way.
The average American consumer lacks the time and convenience to research proper
disposal sites and transport the waste to the destination. However, if given a
convenient option, that same consumer might well take the effort to do the right
thing. That’s why the participation of electronics retailers is so vital. The
bankruptcy of Circuit City dealt a serious blow to the work of recycling
advocates but Best Buy has initiated a broad expansion of its collection program
which more than offsets this other large loss.
As of today, Best Buy has expanded its electronic recycling program to encompass
all of its locations – a huge improvement! Better still, most consumer
electronics will be accepted for free. This move by Best Buy is exactly the type
of corporate leadership which must be shown in order to begin the cultural shift
needed to achieve the large strides toward greener living and I commend Best Buy
for expanding electronics collection to its entire retail network.
Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line
Corbett Kroehler
Electronic waste is a huge problem, both in terms of land pollution and the resulting loss of natural areas which absorb greenhouse gases. As a leading consumer and disposer of electronic equipment, the United States should lead the world in the safe and sustainable disposal of electronic waste. The opposite is true. Even worse is the fact that much of the electronic waste which is recycled winds up sold to unscrupulous disposal firms which often incinerate the waste, pumping unspeakable quantities of toxins into the air, or dumped in rivers, either on American soil or overseas.
Regulatory bodies have begun to intervene in the disposal of electronic waste in order to assure proper dismantling and component recycling but much more needs to be done in order to capture electronic waste at its source, the curbside residential collection site and the dumpster. Until we capture more there, we will fail to address electronic waste in a meaningful way.
The average American consumer lacks the time and convenience to research proper disposal sites and transport the waste to the destination. However, if given a convenient option, that same consumer might well take the effort to do the right thing. That’s why the participation of electronics retailers is so vital. The bankruptcy of Circuit City dealt a serious blow to the work of recycling advocates but Best Buy has initiated a broad expansion of its collection program which more than offsets this other large loss.
As of today, Best Buy has expanded its electronic recycling program to encompass all of its locations – a huge improvement! Better still, most consumer electronics will be accepted for free. This move by Best Buy is exactly the type of corporate leadership which must be shown in order to begin the cultural shift needed to achieve the large strides toward greener living and I commend Best Buy for expanding electronics collection to its entire retail network.
Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line
Corbett Kroehler