EPA Announces E-Waste Partnership

Rebekah A. Hall

Washington, D.C. – Hoping to take a new approach to electronics recycling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new partnership with Staples, Framingham, Mass., and the Product Stewardship Institute, Lowell, Mass. As part of the EPA’s Plug-In to eCycling campaign, the collaboration will test a pilot "take-back" program to promote recycling through manufacturer and retailer partnerships. During the pilot, electronics manufacturers such as Apple, Brother and Dell will pay for the recycling of their name-brand products returned to 26 Staples stores in four states.

Electronic waste is the fastest growing portion of U.S. refuse, with an estimated 250 million computers becoming obsolete in 2005, according to the EPA.