Best Buy ups the ante for retailer recycling programs

A pilot recycling program launched this week in 117 Best Buy stores is turning the company,s outlets into free drop-off centers for your old gear. If successful, it might help boost recycling services as a point of competition among electronics retailers.

The program, at stores in the Baltimore, San Francisco, and Minnesota markets, allows visitors to bring in up to two items per day, per household, for recycling at no charge. No purchase is required. Allowable items include most televisions and monitors up to 32-inches, computers, phones of all types, and cameras.

The company says it will "work with its stores, recycling partners, and manufacturers to evaluate the success of the test and determine options for scaling it across the U.S." Meantime, the company adds, all Best Buy stores will continue to offer other programs  including recycling kiosks for ink cartridges, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, and PDA/smart phones and appliance and television home pickup and disposal for $100.

Traditionally, Consumers Union, Consumer Reports' parent organization, promotes the idea that manufacturers have the onus for creating recycling programs, but it of course also welcomes retailers stepping up.

The Best Buy program is among the most extensive yet by a U.S. electronics retailer. Staples seems to be the closest retailer rival. But Staples' Eco Easy program is free only for smaller items, including keyboards, mice, computer speakers, and phones; there's a $10-per-item charge for computers, TVs, and other larger items. (You can find more information about the program on Staples' Eco Easy web site.)

Assuming they continue and even expand, the Best Buy and Staples programs might prompt broader programs from other electronics retailers, who now offer more limited recycling services:

• Office Depot offers a "Tech Recycling Box" that consumers can purchase in three different sizes—small ($5), medium ($10), and large ($15), the latter measuring 24"H x 18"D x 18"W. They also offer in-store recycling for cell phones, rechargeable batteries, ink and toner cartridges.


• Circuit City offers in-store recycling for cell phones and rechargeable batteries and the option to trade in your old products, including computers, cameras, PDAs, and MP3 players, online in exchange for store credit equal to their value. (Best Buy has a similar trade-in program).


• Office Max offers a "Max Perks" box for collection of ink and toner cartridges and cell phone batteries. Some outlets also collect ink cartridges.

—Kristi Wiedemann

Comments

[Xoandre]

OfficeMax has offered a device recycling program for the past year, through which customers pay a small fee ($5 to $30) to drop off old computers, peripherals, monitors, and the like. At the same time, customers receive an equivalent valued coupon for five-to-ten dollars more than the recycling fee that is good on related brand products.

So - for instance - if a customer brings in a medium sized printer for recycling, he will pay a $10 fee and receive a coupon for $15 off a new printer purchase.

While Best Buy is offering no charge and no purchase requirements, this could lead to a lot of extra cost on the bottom line for them, as recycling these machines does cost quite a bit...

--Xoandre