Consumer electronics industry is operating the first-ever industry-wide electronics recycling initiative to recycle one billion pounds of electronics annually by 2016.

The eCycling Leadership Initiative seeks to improve consumer awareness of the almost 7,500 collection sites currently sponsored by industry; increase the amount of electronics recycled responsibly; increase the number of collection opportunities available; and provide transparent metrics on eCycling efforts. One billion pounds of electronics would fill about 89 million cubic feet, equivalent to an entire 71,000-seat NFL stadium.
Year One of the eCycling Leadership Initiative

The eCycling Leadership Initiative just completed it's first year with big successes. Specifically, participants of the eCycling Leadership Initiative arranged for the responsible recycling of 460 million pounds of consumer electronics, a 53 percent increase over the 300 million pounds recycled in 2010. Additionally, electronics manufacturers and retailers increased the number of recycling drop-off locations for consumers nationwide to nearly 7,500 from just over 5,000 a year ago.

To find out more about the first year, please read the First Annual Report of the eCycling Leadership Initiative.

Watch this video to find out more:

More eCycling Leadership Initiative Information

Our Principles

The Billion Pound Challenge

Increasing industry-led electronics recycling to one billion pounds annually. 

• One billion pounds is more than three times the amount of consumer electronics companies recycled in 2010 (300 million pounds).
• To put that in context, a billion pounds of used electronics is 89 million cubic feet or roughly the size of the average 71,000-seat NFL stadium.
• Irresponsible recycling of electronics – usually informal, labor-intensive handling without customary safeguards for workers and the environment – is unacceptable, whether here or abroad. We will continue to avoid using recyclers and downstream processors who dump electronics in developing nations.
• We support the broader movement toward third-party certified recyclers as a step towards ensuring that all electronics recycling – particularly recycling arranged for by entities outside the consumer electronics industry – is done responsibly. We encourage more recycling in such facilities.
• The consumer electronics industry supports implementation of these recycler certification systems so that at a minimum the 1 billion pounds we have challenged ourselves to recycle is done so in third-party certified facilities.

Education

Raising eCycling awareness: 

• Close to 7,500 permanent collection sites available nationwide and growing.
• Electronics manufacturers and retailers practicing strict recycling standards that protect human health and the environment, including practices that prohibit the use of recyclers and downstream processors who irresponsibly dispose of electronics, whether here or abroad.
• Recycler requirements developed and implemented by the consumer electronics industry that have served as the model for standards in the nascent recycler 3rd party certification system, including downstream auditing, triage processes for reusable equipment, and throughput tracking.
• The consumer electronics industry supports emerging recycler 3rd party certification systems and is working with recyclers and other stakeholders to make these systems an effective “floor” for recycling performance.
• Nationwide mail-back and drop-off options for most small electronics.

Infrastructure, recycling enhancement

Expanding opportunities for consumers to recycle and the amount recycled by:
 

• Not using recyclers and downstream processors who irresponsibly dispose of electronics.
• Working with state and local governments to maintain and develop new consumer eCycling opportunities that build upon existing solid waste infrastructures and follow industry’s strict standards.
• Enhancing partnerships with charities and other community-based organizations to recycle electronics responsibly.
• Emphasizing continual improvement by partnering with state and local governments to assess where additional eCycling infrastructure is needed.

Measurement and transparency

Publishing national progress reports using 2010 as a baseline that include:

• The more than 5,000 industry-sponsored collection opportunities across all 50 states in 2010.
• 300 million pounds of eCycling by the consumer electronics industry in 2010.
• A national CEA recycling survey conducted in August 2010 that found 58 percent of all consumers knew where they could recycle their consumer electronics.
• The status of nascent recycler third-party certification systems and the capacity of certified recycling facilities.