Let's face it. While printing less paper is good for the environment, there is still the problem of a skyrocketing number of electronic products discarded every year. According to the EPA, e-waste is now the fastest-growing part of the municipal waste stream. So what to do with your Sony Reader once it has lived past its usefulnes? It's suprisingly simple. Give it back to Sony.
During yesterday's hearing on Capitol Hill, Sony Exec VP
Michael T. Williams spoke about the various Sony recycling programs and about how his company is developing environmentally-friendly electronic products. Of course the Reader served as his grand example.
Quote:
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While Sony will recycle its own products for free, our recycling locations will also accept non-Sony consumer electronics and information technology products. To fully carry out this nationwide e-waste take-back program, Sony and Waste Management Recycle America utilize 138 drop-off centers throughout the country. This is an increase from the initial 75. In addition to setting up permanent collection centers, we are also holding recycling events, coordinating with retailers and local municipalities. By the end of this year, we plan to have held at least 50 special recycling events. Our goal is to have 150 drop- off locations throughout the United States, with at least one recycling location in every state by September 2008. Our longer term goal is to have a collection location within 20 miles of 95% of the United States population at which consumers, retailers, and municipalities can have any product from any consumer electronic manufacturer recycled.
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Attached you find a summary of Mr. Williams's speech. It's also available online as a RealPlayer video via C-SPAN (starting at around minute 35): rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/e043008_waste.rm