It's getting easier to recycle old electronics

Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba will join a nationwide recycling initiative designed to allow purchasers of each companies’ products to have them recycled at collection centers around the county.

The recycling program, which is being coordinated by Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM), will provide a free means of recycling old televisions and other consumer audio and video products.

The program will begin in several states in November before expanding to all states with hundreds of additional sites over the next three years. Products from all three companies will be accepted at these locations, with potentially more to follow.

Beginning in November, more than 160 sites will be available in 10 states to drop consumer audio and video electronics products. The companies said they will continue to expand the program until its services cover all 50 states.

Sharp said it will also accept consumer drop-off of its products for recycling at its headquarters in Mahwah, NJ.

MRM said it is seeking build sufficient volumes to maximize efficient collection by bringing together the electronic product manufacturing community into a voluntary national program to handle America’s e-waste recycling needs.

The initiative will enable MRM to expand its operations beyond its current activities in Minnesota and Texas. Now entering its second year of operations, MRM currently manages recycling services in both states for about 25 manufacturers.

The first phase of the MRM nationwide ramp-up will start in November with management of recycling for manufacturers in several additional states, including California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. MRM will continue its expansion until its services cover all 50 states.

The MRM effort joins a similar initiative started in 2007 between Sony and WM Recycle America. The company in partnership with US Waste Management and its retail partners has collected over 560 tons of e-waste through more than 80 events nationwide. (info from TWICE)