Best Buy, Dell, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Sprint and Staples are among the electronics manufacturers and retailers recognized by the EPA for their achievements in used electronics stewardship under the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge.
The companies’ environmental achievements include diverting more than 220,000 metric tons of used electronics to third party certified recyclers in 2013 — an increase of 7.6 percent since 2012.
The EPA also recognized Best Buy, Dell, Sprint and Samsung as SMM Electronics Champion award winners for demonstrating significant environmental, social and economic outcomes for their organizations and the public that the agency says go above and beyond the requirements of the SMM Electronics Challenge.
The US generates almost 3.4 million tons of e-waste per year. By participating in the SMM Electronics Challenge, leaders in the electronics industry commit to increasing the amount of used electronics they collect and, in addition, sending 100 percent of used electronics to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers.