Know Your Role

Chris Carlson

Different states have different e-waste recycling requirements that manufacturers must meet. Because the various regulations can be difficult to keep track of, the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM), Minneapolis,, has launched a new Web site, www.mrmrecycling.com, that helps manufacturers understand their responsibilities in each of the 16 states that have e-waste recycling laws.

Formed in January to manage e-waste collection and recycling programs in the United States, MRM is a joint venture of Panasonic Corp. of North America, Sharp Electronics and Toshiba America Consumer Products. The new Web site offers a compliance calendar that provides manufacturers with a simplified overview of registration, reporting and collection program requirements, which are organized by date and state.

“MRM was founded on the principle that the best way to achieve the economies of scale and efficiencies necessary to create a sustainable recycling system for used electronics is for an independent company to manage collaborative electronic recycling programs,” said David Thompson, president of MRM, in a press release. “While individual company programs are effective in servicing business customers and have played a role in moving the collection of consumer electronics forward, they cannot provide a viable, long-term, comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by the electronics industry.”

“The MRM calendar is designed to put all manufacturer requirements in one, easy-to-understand format, and advise manufacturers of the turn-key solutions that MRM is developing,” Thompson added. “Cost- effective and environmentally sound recycling is vital for increasing the long-term sustainability of the electronics industry.” MRM currently is developing programs in Minnesota and six other states.