Best Buy Screws PA for TV recycling with changes to Electronics Program
Electronics are one of those items that are tricky (and sometimes expensive) to recycle.
Best Buy officially Best Buy has now added a $25 (!!!) fee for every TV or monitor collected for recycling, which applies to the old school “Tube” (CRT) TVs & monitors, as well as the flat screens. However, they are NOT recycling TVs or computer monitors in PA because the law prevents Best Buy from collecting fees to run the program. Their other recycling programs will continue to be for free (phones, appliances, ink, etc.) Full list of what Best Buy recycles is here.
According to Best Buys website, they explain the reason for the changes:
“Since 2009, Best Buy has voluntarily operated the most comprehensive e-waste recycling service in the United States. We remain an industry leader and the only national retailer to provide this service. We are fully committed to being a convenient local resource for people to safely dispose of their consumer electronics and appliances. From time to time, though, we will make changes to ensure the service itself is sustainable, including charging fees to recycle certain products for which recycling costs have risen sharply.”
This comes from a store which made $40.34 BILLION USD revenue in 2015. And they’re now stating that the cost is too much for customers?
Where to Recycle TVs in Philadelphia:
Good news is that we have a few alternatives in Philly. We listed these other places to recycle a TV in Philly:
- eForce Compliance – 3114 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia PA. EForce also has events throughout the city & region, so check their social media pages for upcoming events
- ECOvanta – 2209 S 58th Street, Philadelphia PA 19147
- Philadelphia Hazardous Waste Events – See the website for a full list of upcoming events.
- Philadelphia Sanitation Convenience Centers – 3033 S 63rd St; 300 Block Domino Lane & Umbria Street; State Road & Ashburner Street.
We always recommend confirming on original websites / calling ahead before you head over to drop off recyclables, as programs change on occasion. (See: Best Buy.)
So why are Best Buy changes a problem?
Overall, technology is constantly changing, which means people quickly discard their old models for new upgrades.
There’s 25 states with NO takeback laws, so Best Buy has been the monopoly of E-waste. Staples accepts a lot of similar items but does NOT accept TVs.
Pennsylvania requires electronics recycling per a law passed in 2013, and even deems dropping these items curbside is ILLEGAL. However, many residents either are unaware or ignore these laws (if you walk around Philly trash days…)
Best Buy is a convenient and prominent store in Philly with recycling, especially where other retails are lacking in these initiatives. Especially when recycling is a personal choice (when people disregard recycling laws) or in areas outside of major cities, their fees provide a bigger hurdle for many.
Where does your E-Waste end up?
70% of electronic waste ends up in China. CNN covered the southeastern town of Guiyu, and how electronic waste has affected residents:
According to the April 2013 U.N. report “E-Waste in China,” Guiyu suffered an “environmental calamity” as a result of the wide-scale e-waste disposal industry in the area.
Much of the toxic pollution comes from burning circuit boards, plastic and copper wires, or washing them with hydrochloric acid to recover valuable metals like copper and steel. In doing so, workshops contaminate workers and the environment with toxic heavy metals like lead, beryllium and cadmium, while also releasing hydrocarbon ashes into the air, water and soil, the report said.
For first-time visitors to Guiyu, the air leaves a burning sensation in the eyes and nostrils.
Another problem in e-waste? When manufacturers purposely modify new plugs/etc that make old models obsolete.
Apple is another tech giant accused of contributing to a growing e-waste problem – their new pin layouts (aka the port where you charge your device) can cause as many as 45 million devices to be partially obsolete. Accessories like docking stations, hotel alarm clocks as well also contribute to the e-waste when changes are made.
Readers, what do you think of Best Buy’s changes?
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I don’t fault Best Buy, they are increasingly be pressured by the street to cut costs to compete with the likes of amazon (who has no takeback program at all). It’s amazing they’ve been able to sustainably run a recycling program this long without charging. You can’t simply expect a for-profit company to do things that aren’t at a minimum cost neutral. Waste Management just gave a talk last week about how the recycling industry is cratering because of low fuel prices. We simply live in a world where recycling isn’t cost effective. Now, an EPR would solve some of this issue, but that’s definitely not on Best Buy. As far as “screwing pa”, I think at best that’s a vast oversimplification, at worst a completely dishonest accounting of what’s going on. They can’t be expected by law to operate a negative value piece of business. If they want to charge a fee for providing a service and the state doesn’t let them, then that’s on the state, and ultimately, the consumer.
You listed eForce Compliance as a place to recycle your TV. They charge $50.00 to recycle. They are worse than Best Buy.
I do understand that companies have to make a profit and have to make decisions based on their bottom line. However, I think one of the problems is that consumers won’t pay the fee, even though they’ll spend hundreds (or thousands) on the TV in the first place. Perhaps they could do something like a rebate system (AKA spend $50 on the recycling fee upfront – mandatory, and give $25 back upon recycling.)
Overall – I do think there needs to be a larger resolution upon recycling these electronics & similar materials – the cost that we don’t see (reference: above links about china / electronic waste) is the really critical cost that we ignore and will get worse in the long run.
Thanks for the update on cost. Although it is pricey, it is at least an option.
This article gives us best and good information regarding computer recycling leed, I work on the project which is based on electronic recycling services. This article also help me in my project.Thank you for this post!
Julie please contact me at tulabatv@gmail.com I have a story you may be interested in
Hey Julie,
There is a new recycling place opening up in Abington that does take all ewaste for free. They do charge for crt tvs and monitors. But everything else you can drop off for free including flat screen tvs. If you want to know more please reach out to me 215 833 4732. I have been trying to get the word out about it. THanks