i3 - July/August 2017 - 39

By Elliot Grimm

Policy

G R E E N P O L I CY

Why has the weight of recycled CE
devices peaked? According to a study by
the Rochester Institute of Technology's
(RIT) Golisano Center for Sustainability,
recycling weights have decreased because
the weights of new CE began to fall in the
year 2001 - everything from our televisions, phones and computers are smaller,
thinner and lighter. Heavy cathode ray tube
TVs are a thing of the past as lighter, flatpanel displays have replaced them. And
mobile devices now perform many of the
tasks previously reserved for heavier, less
portable tech products.
The industry is making great strides in
protecting the environment and producing more sustainable products. In fact,
according to a recent report from the
EPA, consumer electronics now have the
fastest growing recycling rate of any product category in the U.S.
"By working with new technologies, the
industry has demonstrated its ability to
harness innovation and raise consumer
awareness, an effort we hope will have lasting benefits for the environment," says
Walter Alcorn, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability,
CTA. Reducing its impact on the environment is one of the consumer tech industry's top priorities.

Making History in
the Recycling Challenge

he consumer technology industry wants to make
recycling old tech devices as easy as buying new
ones. In 2011, the industry challenged itself to make
a meaningful impact on electronics recycling by launching the
eCycling Leadership Initiative (ELI), spearheaded by CTA.

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

While this initiative focused on recycling, in less than a decade, the consumer
tech industry has carved a new path for sustainability. Manufacturers are delivering better and more material-efficient products to consumers. Around 8,000
responsible recycling locations are now available throughout the country for older
tech products. And the industry has dedicated more than $1 billion to recycle
consumer electronics (CE) and raise public awareness - more than any other
industry has spent on consumer recycling in the U.S. Incubator Management,
Wenjun Wang. "In recent years, China has faced the largest ever boom in mass
entrepreneurship and innovation," she says.
According to the Sixth Annual Report of the
eCycling Leadership Initiative, the industry's
In 2016, roughly
commitment to increasing the collection oppor630 million
tunities available to consumers and improving
pounds
of CE
consumer awareness of industry-sponsored recyproducts were
cling facilities is helping improve our environrecycled - more
ment. The report shows manufacturers and
retailers recycled more than four billion pounds
than double
of CE products over the past eight years.
the amount when
In 2016, roughly 630 million pounds of CE prod700
the program
660
ucts were recycled - more than double the amount
630
620
launched.
when the program launched. Companies such as
Apple, Best Buy, Dell and DirecTV were spotlighted
as Initiative Leaders that recycled in excess of CE
585
recycling goals set by CTA for 2016.
460
Although the total recycled weight of CE took
a slight dip last year, this is part of the trend that
began nearly two decades ago with new products
becoming smaller, lighter and thinner than ever.
300
This evolution, plus dramatic improvements in
200
products' energy efficiency, has brought about a new
era of sustainability in the consumer technology
industry: Manufacturers now generate less waste
while delivering better and more material-efficient
products to consumers. The decline is consistent
with recent data published by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) that shows waste generRECYCLED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS
ated from CE products flattened from 2013 to 2014.
SOURCE: eCycling Leadership Initiative, Sixth Annual Report
GO ONLINE: For more information on industry-led sustainability efforts like the eCycling Leadership Initiative, visit CTA.tech/green.
And to find tips on living and buying green, as well as to locate the recycling facility nearest you, go to GreenerGadgets.org.
C TA . t e c h / i 3

JULY/AUGUST 2017

http://CTA.tech/green http://www.GreenerGadgets.org http://www.cta.tech

i3 - July/August 2017

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