In an effort to minimize electronic waste, Sony has launched a nationwide free E-Cycling program. We can say that Sony is following the footsteps of Dell in rolling out the fee customers had to pay to get their products disposed off in an environmentally responsible way.
The company has teamed up with 75 Waste Management Recycle America eCycling drop-off centers throughout the United States. Sony has stated that a company’s support and service does not end once the product is in the hands of the user. Rather companies have to take the responsibility to prevent the environment from being flooded with electronic waste.
Electronic waste is creating grave environmental hazards and is a growing problem in all the major countries of the world where these products are sold and used in every home. A study by the EPA showed that in 2005 used or unwanted electronics amounted to about 1.9 to 2.2 million tons and out of this only 345,000 to 379,000 tons was recycled and the rest was disposed off in landfills. Recycling does not only prevent electronic waste from harming the environment, but some components such as glass, plastic and metal can be reused in new products that further decreases the need to extract fresh metals from the Earth. This results in a decrease in energy expenditure and greenhouse gases that would have been emitted in the extraction process.
With this new program, Sony is planning to reach a goal of recycling one pound of electronic waste for every pound of electronics sold by it. The company is also working towards a goal of having enough drop-off locations so that users don’t have to travel much to reach the drop-off location. Customers won’t have to pay anything for getting a Sony product recycled, but if they want to recycle any other company’s products then they will have to pay the market prices.
Via: News Factor
