[Raptor235]

With the holiday shopping season now upon us millions of new electronics, including digital, plasma and LCD TVs, will be sold over the next few weeks, but often little attention is paid to where the old electronics end up.

According to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 88 percent of the 2.63 million tons of e-waste generated in the US ends up in landfills or incinerators, where dangerous toxins can leach into groundwater or get released into the air – the other 12% of e-waste is recycled.

In the EU and Japan, electronics manufacturers are now required by law to take back waste electronics, but as there is no equivalent law in the US the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETC) has launched a "Take Back My TV Campaign’, to keep old TV’s off the landfill.

As well as providing information on where consumers can take their old TVs for recycling, the campaign is aiming to sign up manufacturers to a recycling pledge – the first company to do so is Sony. The company has already committed to not only take back old televisions, but also to make sure their recyclers meet a strict set of recycling standards, including not exporting the toxic waste to developing countries. You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/environment/take-campaign

[Tag]

Nice idea of the companies. But more people would be interested if they gave a rebate on their next electronic item, for returning the old one.

[chocoguy]

It's such a waste because I know that in a third world country like the Philippines. A lot of people are still using these waste electronics.

[Green-Moo]

It's interesting to hear that it's law in the EU for electronics manaufacturers to take back old TVs, as it's obviously not something that's well known. I lived in the UK for a long time, and I had no idea.

You can tell that the price of TVs has dropped again, as I'v enoticed lots & lots of very desirable sets becoming available via FreeCycle. A few years ago these would have been really expensive but now folk are replacing them & giving them away for free!

Green-Moo

[horselover]

Funny, I've got an old tv sitting in the back of my car. I don't know what to do with it right now.

[RFL1986]

That's really a great initiative and one that more people should be aware of. I always find it so wasteful when perfectly good, older technology just gets trashed instead of taken advantage of.

[mollyL]

That's great what the EU is doing. I hope the good idea spreads! They might not be advertised very well, but in alot of cities there are recycling centers that will take your old electronics, then break them down into their constituent parts for recycling. If they are just old electronics like computers, they might give them away to folk who can't afford computers on their own.

[RFL1986]

I know there are spots for this in some of the bigger cities around my area and I keep hoping that it catches on a little bit better especially around the holiday season when so many new electronics are being bought.

[3plus3]

We try to freecycle or donate to goodwilll any old tv's that we no longer use. We also look on freecycle for any replacements that we may need.

[ACCER]

You can also donate these items, as long as they are still usable, to schools, shelters...etc.