 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 33, No. 2 * January 29, 2001 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Industry group leads effort to
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) has unveiled an industry-led effort to encourage consumers to reuse and recycle used electronics such as TVs, PCs, VCRs, and cell phones. The effort, named the Consumer Education Initiative, or CEI, includes a Web site (www.eiae.org) that directs users to local charities, needy schools, neighborhood and community “demanufacturers,” and other local and national recycling programs that collect used electronics. The Consumer Education Initiative provides consumers and others with information on recycling and reuse opportunities for used electronics. The program is a result of hundreds of meetings with federal, state and local government officials, industry representatives, environmental groups, and reuse, recycling, and disposal organizations. The heart of the CEI is the Web site. Once on the Web site, a consumer simply clicks on his or her state. The site will list various options, including donation sites at schools and charities as well as industry and government-run collection, reuse and recycling programs. In addition, the Web site will contain pertinent facts and background on used electronics, helpful links, and information on other industry-led efforts to reduce the impacts of our products on the environment. “We’ve found that consumers don’t want to simply throw away their old PC or TV, but they don’t know what do to with them. This Web site will help consumers reuse and recycle obsolete electronic products by giving them to charities or donating them to a school,” EIA President Dan McCurdy noted. To raise awareness of the Web site, participating manufacturers have agreed to include an industry statement in product owner manuals, company Web sites, or product packaging and literature, directing consumers to the CEI web page. EIA is also briefing state, local and national legislators and lawmakers on the program, including officials from the new Bush Administration and the newly sworn-in 107th Congress. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. — the nation’s largest high-tech trade show, hosted by the Consumer Electronic Association — EIA staff distributed T-shirts to thousands of attendees that read, “DON’T TRASH YOUR PC, GO TO WWW. EIAE.ORG INSTEAD TO LEARN ABOUT REUSE AND RECYLING PROGRAMS FOR USED ELECTRONICS.” |