SONY OPENS RECYCLING CENTER
Sony Electronics has partnered with Envirocycle Inc., headquartered in Hallstead, Pa., to operate a post-consumer electronics recycling plant at its headquarters near San Diego.
"Sony’s leadership in electronics recycling since 1990 has resulted in programs that now recycle over 95 percent of electronic waste either produced by Sony at our manufacturing sites or collected by Sony through product returns and in warranty repair items," Mark Small, vice president of environmental affairs, Sony Electronics, says. "Our post-consumer electronics recycling programs, as well as our relationship with Envirocycle over the last 10 years, reflect our continued dedication to protecting the environment."
Envirocycle Inc. will operate and manage the 25,000-square-foot plant on the Sony campus in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. The facility will recycle televisions, computer display monitors and laptop computers.
This will be the second recycling center managed by Envirocycle at a major Sony facility in the United States. It will also be Sony’s fourth center dedicated to recycling waste electronics generated from the U.S. market.
Sony has worked with Envirocycle for more than 10 years to collect, recycle and reuse post-consumer materials.
NEW EXPORT REFORM ASSOCIATION FORMED
The World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association (WR3A), an organization for electronics recyclers and other reuse exporters, has been incorporated in Middlebury, Vt.
The WR3A hopes to establish quality standards for monitors, televisions and other repair-and-reuse items exported for repair from the United States. The group says it will also encourage higher environmental standards for overseas refurbishment companies and promote domestic recycling of scrap derived from electronics, such as leaded CRT glass and gold circuitry.
Founding members of the organization are American Retroworks Inc., the Chochise County Learning Action Coalition and staff from the University of California at Davis.
"Several companies like American Retroworks Inc. tried to establish a higher exporting standard to meet the strong demand for working and repairable monitors and TVs overseas," says founder Robin Ingenthron of American Retroworks. "I think many of us found we didn’t have enough materials to dictate the terms. This organization will cooperatively sell quality items and perform with diligence on every member’s behalf," he ads.
The organization will share its headquarters with American Retroworks.
Although membership in WR3A was free until the end of 2004, members will vote on rates for 2005.
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