Why are we asking companies to follow the Manufacturers Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling?
Most U.S. electronics recyclers can make more money by using “low-road” strategies for handling the electronic products collected for “recycling” – including exporting them to developing countries, using captive prison labor to process e-waste, or even sending it to landfills or incinerators (here or in other countries). None of these are responsible recycling strategies, since they all can result in toxic contamination and exposure to the poor communities – here and overseas. Unfortunately, our federal government is part of the problem, rather than the solution – in fact they actively work against these three principles for responsible recycling. Now that more electronics companies and retailers are launching electronics takeback and recycling programs (some voluntary, some because state laws require them to), we are stepping up our campaign to get these industry leaders, as global corporate citizens, to lead the way in making sure that their recyclers are not using low-road practices
