Local Governments and Good Guys kick-off nation's first retail television recycling program

This is a joint release issued by King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, the City of Seattle, the City of Tacoma and the Environmental Protection Agency

2004 Archived News
King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, the City of Seattle, the City of Tacoma and the Environmental Protection Agency are joining with Good Guys and six electronics manufacturers to collect and recycle televisions from July 8th through August 7th 2004. In the nation's first month-long TV recycling program to be offered by a large TV retailer, area residents can bring their old televisions to Good Guys stores in Bellevue, Tukwila, Lynnwood and Puyallup for recycling.

Northwest Washington residents will generate more than 1 million units of obsolete electronics in 2005, including 463,000 televisions. Televisions contain hazardous materials like lead, cadmium and mercury, which can contaminate air, land and water if not properly disposed. Recycling televisions also reclaims valuable resources like copper and lead for reuse reducing the need for further mining of raw materials.

"Recycling old electronics can help us conserve valuable resources and protect our environment," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Disposing properly of the hazardous materials in electronics is crucial to protecting our air, land and water and reusing the valuable resources inside helps conserve resources."

"This program is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to provide improved services to citizens and customers," said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. "Information gained will help retailers and state and local governments plan for on-going sustainable recycling programs for electronic products."

"Pierce County has been working hard to clean up illegal dumpsites and improve the livability of our communities. All too often we are finding old televisions illegally dumped on private properties, along roads, and adjacent to fish habitat. We are pleased to participate in this regional partnership to put old televisions where they belong - in the recycling system," said Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg.

To help consumers properly dispose of old televisions, local Good Guys stores and participating manufacturers are offering a four-week pilot recycling program that subsidizes the cost of recycling by 50 percent. Beginning July 8th Good Guys stores will accept televisions made by any manufacturer for a $10 recycling fee, $25 for consoles. Consumers who recycle their televisions will receive a 10 percent discount on the purchase of any television sold by participating manufacturers: JVC, Phillips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp and Sony. Recycling televisions through current local government and business programs costs up to $50 per unit.

"The Good Guys are showing themselves as leaders in electronics recycling," said John Iani, Pacific Northwest Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. "This partnership is a fantastic step toward reducing toxics in our landfills and giving people another opportunity to choose to be environmental stewards. I know I have an old TV ready to exchange. I hope we see more of these programs in the future."

"This is a great deal for consumers," said Mary Doan, Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Good Guys. "The recycling fee is very low, and the product discount could more than cover the cost of recycling their old TVs. Consumers can feel good that they are doing something to protect the environment and conserve natural resources."

People can recycle their electronics year-round through the Take It Back Network created by King and Snohomish Counties to help residents and businesses find environmentally sound recyclers. The network is a group of local organizations and businesses that provide reuse and recycling services for all types of electronic products including computers, peripherals, TVs and household electronics. For more information see http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/takeitback/index.asp

Local governments and environmental organizations have also brought electronics recycling to the state level as they seek long-term solutions. Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a bill requiring the Department of Ecology to conduct research and develop recommendations for implementing and financing a collection, recycling, and reuse program for electronic products. Reports are due to the legislature in Dec. 2004 and Dec. 2005.

"Ecology will be looking at the results from this pilot project as they craft their recommendations for a long term recycling program," said Representative Mike Cooper, sponsor of the legislation. "It is fortunate that we have the opportunity to test a program like this locally and to get relevant feedback from the public about what they like and don't like. It will make for a much better statewide electronics recycling program."

Consumer questions about the program can be directed to participating Good Guys stores:

• Michael Bizak, (425) 688-0029, 601 106th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
• Dave Marriott, (425) 640-5514, 19800 44th Avenue W, Lynnwood, WA 98036
• Gary Siemers, (253) 770-7200, 120 - 31st Avenue SE, Puyallup, WA 98374
• Chuck Bennington, (206) 575-8000, 300 Andover Park West #500, Tukwila, WA 98188

• Good Guys electronics stores are partnering with local and national government agencies and national electronics manufacturers to recycle televisions from residents.
• The project is supported with a grant from the Environmental Projection Agency and contributions from program partners including King County, Snohomish County, the City of Tacoma, the City of Seattle, Good Guys, JVC, Pioneer, Samsung, Philips, Sony and Sharp.
• Electronic waste is a growing concern here and abroad. According to the Environmental Protection Agency the U.S. Generates more electronic waste than any other nation with more than 4.6 million tons of it entering U.S. landfills in 2000.
• In the Northwest Washington counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce and Thurston, more than one million obsolete electronics will be generated in 2005 -- roughly 44 percent of that, or 463,000 units, will be televisions. This is only expected to increase in the future as the pace of technological advances quickens and electronics become obsolete more quickly.
• Televisions contain materials like lead that can be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. Lead can be safely reclaimed and reused if a television is recycled.
• The televisions collected at Good Guys stores will be recycled by a local recycler according to local, state and federal environmental regulations. No hazardous materials will be exported.
• The project will test the feasibility of taking back TVs for recycling at an electronics retail store.

Date: July 8, 2004 through August 7, 2004.

Location: Good Guys Retail Stores

• 601 106th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004, (425) 688-0029
• 19800 44th Avenue W, Lynnwood, WA 98036, (425) 640-5514
• 120 - 31st Avenue SE, Puyallup, WA 98374, (253) 770-7200
• 300 Andover Park West #500, Tukwila, WA 98188, (206) 575-8000

Materials Accepted: All brands of televisions from residents, limit of two per resident per visit.

Fees:

• $10 for TVs
• $25 for console TVs.

Discount Coupon: Good Guys is offering a 10 percent discount coupon good on the purchase of products sold by participating manufacturers to consumers who recycle their televisions. The coupons are good until August 21, 2004 only at the four participating stores.

Manufacturer Partners: JVC, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp and Sony

Recyclers: Philip Services Corporation was selected to collect the electronics from the four stores. The materials will be disassembled at Total Reclaim, Inc.

Web site: www.recyclemytv.com

EMBARGOED UNTIL JULY 7, 2004

The E-Waste Problem

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a rapidly growing problem. With advances in technology and lower prices people replace electronic products frequently – as often as every two years.

Electronic products contain lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants, and other hazardous substances. Computer monitors, Central Processing Units, TVs, and cell phones may be categorized as hazardous waste because of their lead and mercury content.

In the Northwest Washington counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce and Thurston more than one million obsolete electronics will be generated in 2005 -- roughly 44 percent of that, or 463,000 units will be TVs. This is only expected to increase in the future as the pace of technological advances quickens and electronics become obsolete more quickly.

King County's 2003 Waste Reduction and Recycling Survey shows that households are storing more than 174,000 computers and 118,000 televisions while waiting for a disposal option.

Also of concern is what happens when e-waste is shipped overseas to be "recycled". The United States exports an estimated 50 to 80 percent of its electronic waste to countries like India, China and Pakistan. In these countries, workers (many of whom are children) disassemble computers by hand to reach the copper, aluminum and steel that can be sold and reused. Many wear little or no protective clothing and have minimal environmental protections. In addition to the risk to human health caused by handling toxic materials, improper disposal can lead to environmental contamination.

Local governments and environmental organizations have also brought this issue to the state level as they seek long-term solutions. Earlier this year, the state legislature passed House Bill 2488 requiring the Department of Ecology to conduct research and develop recommendations for implementing and financing a collection, recycling, and reuse program for electronic products in Washington State. The information gathered from this pilot project will be analyzed and used to inform the study. Reports are due to the legislature in Dec. 2004 and Dec. 2005.

Project Goals

• To provide the public with convenient locations for recycling used electronic equipment such as computers and TVs.
• To provide the public with at least a one month window when they can drop off their electronic products (rather than a one-day collection event).
• To test the feasibility of collecting used electronics products in a retail setting and to test different logistics and promotional tools.
• To obtain electronics manufacturer participation in the pilot project.
• To serve as a national model for recycling infrastructure that is being developed through the National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI). It will also provide local data that will be used by the Department of Ecology in a report on the need for electronics recycling as required by House Bill 2488 that was passed last session.

Project Partners

Government Agencies: The cities of Seattle and Tacoma, King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County and the Environmental Protection Agency coordinated the project, provided assistance and publicized the project in their local communities.

Retailer: Good Guys stores in Lynnwood, Puyallup, Bellevue and Tukwila will accept televisions from residents from July 8 through August 7, 2004. Residents that bring in a TV will receive a coupon good for a 10 percent discount on the participating manufacturer televisions. Coupons are good through August 21, 2004.

Manufacturers: JVC, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp and Sony contributed funds to offset the costs of recycling the televisions.

Recyclers: Philip Services Corporation will collect the electronics from the four stores and Total Reclaim, Inc will disassemble and ship them to domestic processors. The recyclers will not export the hazardous materials collected as part of this program and manage all materials according to federal, state and local environmental regulations.

Project Details

Good Guys electronics stores will collect TVs from residents for one month, from July 8, 2004 to August 7, 2004. There is a limit of two TVs per customer. The fee for the service is $10 for TVs and $25 for console TVs. Residents that bring in a TV will receive a coupon good for a 10 percent discount on the participating manufacturer televisions. Coupons are good through August 21, 2004.

Philip Services Corporation will pick up the TVs from the stores on weekly basis or as needed. The equipment will be transported to Total Reclaim in Seattle for disassembly and shipment to the final processors.

This program is unique in its shared responsibility for electronics recycling – retailers, manufacturers, consumers and local and national government are all sharing the cost of collecting and recycling the TVs. The cooperation among private and public partners will serve as a national model.

The following data will be collected and analyzed in a report to the EPA.

• the amount of staff time and resources contributed to the program;
• the volume and/or weight, brand and type of equipment recycled;
• the estimated startup costs and the ongoing program costs;
• the type of manufacturer and/or retailer support and dollar value;
• the feasibility of using the major electronics retail outlets as collection points for the used equipment;
• the customer satisfaction with the service

The report will be made available to other retailers and local governments wishing to expand their electronics collection and recycling programs.

Project Funding

In March of 2003, a group of government agencies belonging to the Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) received a grant from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a pilot project to recycle electronic equipment. The council is a group of government agencies that are working to integrate product stewardship principles into the policy and economic structures of the Pacific Northwest. This pilot project will test the collection of electronic equipment at large electronics retail stores and will recycle the electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner. The project which is part of EPA's Plug into E-cycling Program received $90,000. The project also received contributions from the project partners -- electronics retailers, manufacturers, and government agencies who all played a role in this model e-waste solution.

Other Electronics Recycling Programs

What should people do with their electronics when this pilot project is over? King and Snohomish County have created the Take It Back Network to help residents and businesses find environmentally sound recyclers. The network is a group of local organizations and businesses that provide reuse and recycling services for all types of electronic products including computers, peripherals, TVs and household electronics. All members have signed an agreement to process the equipment domestically or in developed nations and not to export to developing nations where environmental regulations may be less stringent.

For more information on members of the Take it Back Network, their fees and materials they accept, see http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/takeitback/index.asp. In Pierce County, the website address for electronics recycling and product stewardship is www.piercecountywa.org/recycle .