ALLEGED CORPORATE BENEFICENCE

Samsung, Sony Push Recycling Efforts
By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 10/3/2008 10:01:00 AM

New York — Samsung kicked off a 50-state recycling drive and Sony announced a new recycling event with Waste Management this week.

Samsung Recycling Direct kicked off earlier this week, which is an effort to recycle the company’s own consumer electronics across all categories at 174 fixed drop-off locations across all 50 states for recycling for no fee.

The program, announced in September, will also accept non-Samsung-branded consumer electronics for a nominal fee paid directly to the recycler upon delivery of the e-waste. Home appliances are currently being taken back in a growing number of locations, the company said.

Consumers who visit this site can learn about the program, find recycling collection sites in all 50 states and read about upcoming recycling drives to be held in many locations throughout the United States.

In addition, Samsung hosted recycling events for thousands of its employees at seven of its campuses in the United States, including Ridgefield Park, N.J.; Mt. Arlington, N.J.; Rancho Dominquez, Calif.; Richardson and Austin, Texas; and San Diego and San Jose, Calif.

On the Web site consumers can also find information including the ability to search by ZIP code to find a detailed map and list of fixed drop-off locations in their area, as well as information on future recycling drives sponsored by Samsung, its retail and business partners, and its recyclers.

Sony and Waste Management Recycle America announced a recycling event this week to take place in the Phoenix area for any brand of old electronics for free Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Additionally, the first 2,000 participants to drop off their unwanted electronics will receive a free, environmentally friendly cloth tote.

The event is part of Sony's ongoing Take Back Recycling program, which provides free recycling for Sony products. This national effort is also bringing attention to recycling e-waste and educating the public that there are alternatives to trashing electronics, and that — through recycling — natural resources can be used again and greenhouse emissions are reduced in the process, Sony said.

Mark Small, environment, safety and health VP for Sony Electronics, said, "These special recycling events help us inform consumers that with Waste Management, Sony has established a local permanent drop-off location, which they can use all year long to recycle their electronics when unplugged for the last time."

Sony quoted a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that said 82 percent of the 2.25 million tons of old TVs, cellphones and computer products generated in the last two years end up in landfills.

By recycling old electronics products, useful materials — such as glass, plastic and metals — can be collected and reused in the manufacture of other products.

Sony and Waste Management report that since their partnership began they have collected a total of 9.2 million pounds of electronic waste.