PALO ALTO, CA — After more than a billion pounds of electronics recycled or reused, Hewlett Packard is stepping up the program, announcing a buyback and recycling program for computers, accessories and other electronics.
The new HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program is the latest initiative in the company's goal to reduce the amount potentially toxic -- and often valuable -- electronic waste that ends up in landfills or exported overseas for processing. The company is accepting all types of computers and monitors, as well as printers, PDAs and smartphones.
Although primarily aimed at consumers, anyone can visit HP's buyback quote website to find out how much their electronics are worth. If the gadgets have no resale value, then HP will still accept the electronics for resale, although customers will still have to pay for shipping.
Upping recycling of electronics is a growing concern among OEMs: as states increasingly pass e-waste laws or consider adopting them, responsible recycling of old electronics will become an obligation, not just a feel-good item. Among the newest state-level laws are two in Oregon and Washington, which require companies to pay for the takeback of their electronics.
Other states' programs -- some 17 states currently have passed and funded electronics laws -- can give OEMs credits for taking back amounts of e-waste in excess of what they've sold in that state. Minnesota's law requires manufacturers to take back a set amount of electronics based on how much they've sold in that state, but if a company takes back more than they're required, those excess pounds carry over into e-waste credits for the next year. By encouraging customers to send in their old electronics, companies like HP can get ahead of the curve of pending legislation and earn credits for the future in states like Minnesota.
More details about the HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program is online at www.hp.com/go/ConsumerBuyback.
Computer photo CC-licensed by Flickr user [niv].