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Staples To Start $10 Fee-Based Computer Recycle Program

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DeSwiss

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Mon May-21-07 06:27 AM
Original message

Staples To Start $10 Fee-Based Computer Recycle Program

Staples Starts Computer Recycle Program

May 21, 12:46 AM (ET)

By MARK JEWELL

BOSTON (AP) - Staples Inc. is expanding its electronics waste recycling program by accepting used computers and monitors that can now be dropped off for a $10 fee at any of the office products chain's 1,400 U.S. locations during store hours.

The step by the world's largest office products supplier follows similar initiatives by many computer makers and retailers to confront the growing environmental and public health risk posed by discarded computers and other electronic gadgets containing toxic metals and chemicals.

Framingham-based Staples on Monday planned to announce the expansion of a four-year-old program allowing customers to drop off smaller devices such as cell phones, pagers and digital cameras for free, regardless of the brand or whether the device was bought at Staples.

Free recycling for those devices will continue at Staples' U.S. and Canadian stores. Starting Monday, desktop and laptop computers and monitors of any make will also be accepted at Staples' customer service desks during store hours, but for a $10 fee for each large item.

more: http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070521/D8P8I91G0.html

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AndyA

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Mon May-21-07 06:37 AM
Response to Original message

1. I've never checked to see how Staples stacks up politically, but we

Edited on Mon May-21-07 06:37 AM by AndyA

use them at work for office supplies, and their customer service is excellent. We've had a couple of problems with delivery times, and they are pretty good about calling to reschedule or offer an alternate.

At one point, we got a letter of apology from them with a $25 credit for our inconvenience. This was because a supplier kept backordering something we ordered. It was beyond their control, but they recongnized we were THEIR customer, and did something about it.

Now it appears they are concerned about the environment as well. That's good.

Anybody know if Staples is red or blue?

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Dogmudgeon

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Mon May-21-07 06:47 AM
Response to Original message

2. Then why not just dump them?

Staples will make money on the scrap anyway. With a $10 item fee, people who would otherwise drop off their old hardware will be inclined to put it on the curb with their trash.

--p!

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Massacure

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Mon May-21-07 09:00 AM
Response to Reply #2

9. Scrap is only worth so much and recycling electronics is a pretty intensive process.

I'd bet that Staples isn't going to be making a whole heck of a lot of money on this.

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RaleighNCDUer

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Mon May-21-07 09:17 AM
Response to Reply #2

11. Because socially responsible people recycle.

I have an antique Sanyo with dual 5 1/4 floppys and no hard drive that I've been lugging arouond for near to 20 years because I just can countenance putting it in a landfill. I've been waiting to find a computer recycling program so that I can be sure all the componants will be properly disposed of.

If I have to pay $10 for them to take if off my hands, and be appropriately recycled, I figure it's worth the price.

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Dogmudgeon

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Mon May-21-07 12:51 PM
Response to Reply #11

13. And I'm on a fixed income

Ten bucks per piece is a lot of money for me to spend on my ever-increasing guilt complex, especially when it goes to take a little pressure off of the cost of Staples' high-visibility corporate environmentalism.

This is Staples' way of saying, "this isn't working out for us." I'll look around for another recycler.

--p!

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liberal N proud

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Mon May-21-07 06:49 AM
Response to Original message

3. I am going to pay Staples to take my old computer so they can profit from it?

How about since they are going to profit from the recycling, that I just give it to them? Or maybe they should pay me $10.

Only in America!

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rosesaylavee

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Mon May-21-07 06:54 AM
Response to Original message

4. Kane County in Illinois

has a computer/electronics recycling program that allows drop-offs for free once/month. We queue up behind one of the govt buildings and a dozen volunteers take the electronics out of the cars and piles them onto pallets. Where they go from there, do not know.

More information on this program can be had here: http://www.co.kane.il.us/Environment/recycle/electronic.htm

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madrchsod

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Mon May-21-07 07:52 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. all of northern illinois has electronics recycling on the county level.

there is also this company in peoria,il-
http://www.retro-tech.org/
this is a really good program..

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rosesaylavee

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Mon May-21-07 07:56 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. Wonder why Illinois has this

when others don't? Do you know the story?

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madrchsod

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Mon May-21-07 08:03 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. i don`t know about other states but here we have recycling

for all hazardous waste at least 4-6 times a year.

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madrchsod

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Mon May-21-07 07:58 AM
Response to Original message

7. just about all charity shops accept used electronics

Edited on Mon May-21-07 07:59 AM by madrchsod

the one in my town has hundreds of electronic bits n pieces .the store is open three days a week and there`s always new stuff on the tables. ten dollars? i`ll give my stuff to my local charity shop and let them make a profit

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SCDem

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Mon May-21-07 09:07 AM
Response to Original message

10. Well I think it is a positive step forward

Seems like there are a lot more naysayers here. We should applaud corporations for making postive steps and encouraging them to step further in the right direction.

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liberal N proud

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Mon May-21-07 09:24 AM
Response to Reply #10

12. But they want to charge you then turn around and make more money

There many other ways to recycle without charging on both ends.

If I have to pay extra to recycle, I am less likely to do so.

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DeSwiss

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Mon May-21-07 08:00 PM
Response to Reply #12

14. In general I would agree....

...if the recycled products were easily broken down and disposed of, as with biodegradable materials. But while Staples plan isn't the best of all possible worlds, its a step in the right direction. The cost of properly disposing of all the heavy metals and chemical compounds that result in the making of a computer are considerable. And as the article stated, they've contracted with a firm that is considered one of the best at this type of disposal and recycling. And Staples already takes peripherals like the pc mouses (mice? - meeses?) keyboards, cell phones, etc. at no cost.

I would prefer (in my perfect world) that the cost of all products -- from cradle to grave -- be factored in prior to sale. While many say that this is cost-prohibitive and would cost jobs, the fact is we either pay upfront or we and our kids and future generations will pay the cost on the back end with a polluted environment and poor health.

My $0.02

~DeSwiss

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july302001

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Mon May-21-07 09:13 PM
Response to Original message

15. Computer recycling

Asheville, NC has a place that will take the computer items for free.

If it's late-model enough, you can sell it or donate it to the Goodwill.

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