Staples to take back consumer electronics for recycling

Staples is giving customers an alternative to trashing unwanted electronic equipment or sticking it out on the sidewalk with a "for free" sign.

Starting Monday, the office-supply chain will accept any brand of used desktop and notebook computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and all-in-one devices with a fee of $10. Smaller items like keyboards, mice and speakers are free to drop off. TVs will not be accepted because they are not sold by the chain.

The fee offsets Staples' cost to collect the unwanted items from its retail outlets to electronic waste recycling plants. Staples worked with the non-profit Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) and the Environmental Protection Agency's eCycling program to test the process in 2004. The project was a trial to see if Staples' product distribution model could be used in reverse, where the trucks that brought in new inventory could take back the recyclable items. During that test, conducted at several New England-area stores, 57 tons of e-waste were collected and recycled, according to PSI.

PSI says the Staples example shows that retailers should be able to take used products back in the same manner as products that have been damaged or returned.

[Jim_Mattos]

Nice surcharge!

The computer recycling efforts are a good thing. But what is not
told to the public is that recycling computers for precious metals
is a booming business.

Although it takes a great deal of computers to render large
amounts of metals like gold and silver (among others), it
currently costs less per ounce of gold to produce it from
recycling computers then digging it out of the ground.

Seems like a nice PR effort to cash in on outdated junk. IMHO
they should be taking old computers for recycling for free since
they are then selling it to recyclers for a fee. Nice scam for a
double dip!

[joespr]

There's a better way if you live in California

There's a better way if you live in California.

You can drop off all sorts of electronic stuff for free at many recycling companies. A new state law that charges a fee when buying new electronics funds the recycling costs. Save yourself some bucks and look for these electronics recycling centers.

[Scott Cassel]

Staples Take Back

In response to the two messages posted...

Yes, there is a much better way in 5 states with electronics legislation...CA, ME, MD, WA, and recently MN. That is what all of us working on the issue are striving for...free recycling for consumers where the cost is embedded into the purchase price of new products. Recycling DOES cost money. While Staples may have found a way not to lose money and be at a competitive disadvantage versus other retailers not doing anything, they have stepped way out ahead of all others by offering a service to customers with no other choice. Most communities in the U.S. either don't offer any collection/recycling or offer it at a fee. We are changing that through e-waste legislation in the states, and hopefully nationally. Until then, Staples is a good choice. And it is not double dipping. That is not the market reality now.