Media Center: Press Releases

Federal Judge Dismissed Industry Lawsuit Against NY City E-Waste Law

(June 28, 2010– New York, NY) A federal court judge today dismissed the lawsuit filed last July by the electronics industry associations against the New York City electronics waste recycling law. The case was rendered moot when the New York legislature passed a statewide e-waste bill that pre-empted the City's law. That bill was signed into law by Governor Patterson on May 28. Both the State and City laws hold the manufacturers responsible for paying for collection and recycling of old electronic products. View full release.

Environmentalists and Consumer Groups Applaud HP’s Policy on E-Waste Export

(February 12, 2009 – San Francisco, CA) Environmentalists and consumer groups applauded Hewlett Packard (HP) for its announcement today of a policy that prohibits the export of toxic electronic waste from developed countries, like the U.S., to any developing country. View full release.

New Resolution Calls on Congress to Lead by Example in Handling Its E-Waste

(San Francisco, CA – November 20, 2009) Representative Mike Thompson yesterday introduced a resolution that calls on Congress to craft a plan to deal with its own e-waste, only using recyclers certified to the new e-Stewards Standard – the highest in the industry.

“In choosing to work only with certified e-Stewards, Congress is saying they want to be sure their old computers and other electronic products don’t end up being exported to developing nations, or sent to prison recycling shops,” said Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. “We are very pleased to see Congress lead by example in solving the problem of global e-waste dumping.” View full release.

Electronics Industry Lawsuit Attacks States’ Rights
State and Local Governments call on Industry to Withdraw New York City E-waste Lawsuit

(San Francisco, CA – November 5, 2009) Government officials from across the country today called on the electronics industry to withdraw its lawsuit against the New York City e-waste recycling law, calling the lawsuit a challenge by the electronics industry to the rights of states and cities to pass producer responsibility laws that hold manufacturers accountable for their products. View full release.

New TV Recycling Report Card shows many TV companies still have no recycling programs, even though Digital TV Conversion Contributes to E-Waste

(San Francisco, CA – June 11, 2009) With the digital TV conversion occurring on Friday June 12, there will be more ewaste that needs to be disposed of properly. Many TV manufacturers, including a market leader, still offer no electronics recycling program, according to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, who published its TV Company Recycling Report Card today.

“With the upcoming digital TV conversion looming before us, many people don’t know where to take their old TVs, said Electronics TakeBack Coalition National Coordinator Barbara Kyle. “There are some responsible manufactures and retailers who offer takeback programs, but unfortunately not all – including market leader Vizio.” More...

Environmentalists Oppose Weak Bill on Toxic E-Waste Exports
[May 22, 2009] A bill introduced today by Rep. Gene Green concerning the electronic waste export problem will still allow exports of toxic waste to continue, according to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a national coalition of environmental and consumer groups. The bill, HR 2595, is sponsored by Rep. Green, as well as Rep. Mary Bono-Mack, and Rep. Mike Thompson. MORE...

Indiana Passes "Producer Takeback" E-Waste Recycling Law

May 14, 2009. Indiana became the first state to pass a major electronics recycling law in 2009 as Governor Mitch Daniels signed HB 1589 into law yesterday, making Indiana the nineteenth state to pass a law creating a statewide e-waste recycling program. Eighteen of these 19 states, including Indiana, have adopted “producer takeback” laws, requiring the manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of old products. MORE...

Environmentalists and Consumer Groups Applaud Dell’s Policy on E-Waste Export

(May 12, 2009 – San Francisco, CA) Environmentalists and consumer groups applauded Dell for its announcement today of a policy that prohibits the export of toxic electronic waste to any developing country.

The Electronics TakeBack Coalition, which promotes responsible recycling and green design in the electronics industry, lauded Dell’s e-waste policy as the highest standard in the industry. MORE...

Electronics TakeBack Coalition Supports Obama’s call to delay the digital TV conversion

January 08, 2009. The Electronic TakeBack Coalition (ETBC) announced its support for President-elect Obama’s request to push the digital TV conversion back from February 17, 2009. While Obama’s transition team is concerned with consumer readiness, pushing back the digital conversion would also give television manufacturers more time to create and implement responsible electronics recycling programs. MORE...

“Green day” at CES kicked off by dancing TV zombie kick line

January 07, 2009. This morning, 25 activists dressed as “undead TV zombies” danced and did a Vegas kick line to draw attention to the need for TV manufacturers to do more to take back and recycle old TVs, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. On the same day that CES hosted sessions featuring industry figures bragging about the “greenness” of their products, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition criticized electronics manufacturers for their general unwillingness to take back and safely recycle their used, toxic products, even though the digital conversion is only a month away. MORE...

The grades are in! TV manufacturers put to the test

November 17, 2008. San Francisco, Calif - With only three months to go until the digital TV conversion, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC) today released its new TV Recycling Report Card, grading the major TV manufacturers on their efforts to establish national programs to take back and recycle their old TVs. More...

E-Stewards: Activists and industry join to certify responsible electronics recyclers

November 10, 2008
SEATTLE — The Basel Action Network and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition joined today with 32 electronics recyclers in the United States and Canada to announce that the e-Stewards program, which identifies the most responsible recyclers in North America , is soon to be fully accredited and certified.

Environmentalists Withdraw from EPA-Led Effort on Electronics Recycling Standards October 01, 2008

ETBC Withdraws from EPA sponsored stakeholders group to create national electronics recycling standards

Senate Considers Resolution Supporting Ban on Export of Toxic E-Waste to Developing Nations

September 18, 2008 Washington, DC—Leaders of a campaign to protect the public from toxic chemicals in electronics applauded Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for introducing a Senate resolution yesterday (Senate Resolution 663) that calls for the U.S. to join other nations in banning the export of toxic e-waste to developing countries. The resolution was previously introduced in the House (H.R. 1395), and is now before the full Congress.

GAO Releases New Report on Toxic E-Waste Export: EPA unable to enforce rules, holds "little concern for the environment"

September 17, 2008

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on electronic waste today during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment.

Enviros Applaud Samsung for New Free National Recycling Program

September 08, 2008

San Francisco , Calif.- Leaders with the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a group of nonprofits dedicated to responsible recycling and green electronics design, praised Samsung Electronics America for its announcement last week that the manufacturer would begin offering a free, nationwide recycling program for its old unwanted or obsolete products, including old TVs, beginning October 1.

Advanced Recycling Fee Coalition Of TV-Makers Dissolves Amid Scandal

August 12, 2008
San Francisco, Calif. - A coalition of electronics manufacturers yesterday officially dissolved their national lobbying coalition which promoted state legislation requiring consumers to pay fees for electronic product recycling, rather than have the companies themselves pay for takeback and recycling programs.

LG Launches New National Free Electronics Recycling Program

August 01, 2008

Members of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a group of nonprofits dedicated to responsible recycling and green design in the electronics industry, praised LG Electronics for its announcement today that the manufacturer would begin offering a free, nationwide recycling program for its old unwanted or obsolete products, including old TVs.

We Searched for Your Gold, Samsung – and Found Mercury

July 24, 2008
As Samsung launches an ad campaign today urging consumers to “hunt for the gold” -- part of an Olympic-themed online scavenger hunt -- leaders of a campaign to protect the public from toxic chemicals in electronic goods say the glitter they’ve found in Samsung TVs and computer monitors is not gold, but hazardous metals like mercury, lead and cadmium.

New Jersey Is Tenth State To Pass E-Waste Bill

February 13, 2008

TRENTON (January 16, 2008) New Jersey became the first state in the nation to pass legislation on electronic waste recycling in 2008, with Governor Jon Corzine signing into law yesterday the “Electronic Waste Management Act,” mandating that electronics manufacturers must pay to collect and recycle old computers, TVs, laptops, and monitors from New Jersey residents, beginning in 2010.

New York Becomes First City in Nation to Pass Electronics Recycling Law

February 13, 2008
The New York City Council passed groundbreaking legislation (Intro. 104-A) today that would institute a city-wide electronics recycling program for the 25,000 tons of discarded electronics the City collects annually, making it the first major municipality in the nation to tackle the rising tide of discarded electronics in the waste stream.

Digital TV Switch Threatens Public Health

January 16, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— America is facing a yearlong flood of lead, cadmium, beryllium and other toxins as millions of televisions make their way to the landfill before February 17, 2009.