Sony Offers to Pick Up Old TV Sets for Recycling

By Andrew Krukowski

Sony is offering free disposal and recycling of old television sets to consumers who purchase a 32-inch or larger Bravia high-definition LCD set under its Green Glove Service.

Sony’s goal is to address a mounting environmental concern as consumers upgrade to flat-screen HD sets and Blu-ray players.

While Sony, in cooperation with Waste Management, does offer free electronics recycling drop sites, the Green Glove Program alleviates the hassle by removing the old set directly from a house.

“Sony is in the forefront of industry recycling efforts by providing consumers another way to conveniently and responsibly dispose of their old electronics,” said Mike Fasulo, Sony Electronics’ chief marketing officer and head of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts.

“By giving consumers the opportunity to do the right thing without even leaving their homes, we are able to make a lasting impact on the state of our environment by responsibly recycling these materials,” he said.

Older television sets contain lead, cadmium and plastic, which in landfills can be damaging to humans and the surrounding environment, and LCD screens contain mercury, which can affect groundwater supplies.

Sony kicked off its TV recycling program last year. In a recent report card released by the Electronics Take-Back Coalition, Sony scored the highest among TV set manufacturers, with a B-minus.

“Sony was the first TV company to launch a national take-back program. They need a lot more collection sites to be convenient in many states, but we applaud Sony for its leadership on TV take-back,” the ETBC said.

However, a majority of television makers, including JVC, Philips and Sanyo, received an F for lacking a voluntary take-back program.

“We hope that consumers who are shopping for a new TV this holiday season will take the manufacturers’ environmental record into account when they decide what to buy,” said Barbara Kyle, national coordinator of the ETBC. “Consumers can and should use their buying power to push this industry toward greener practices.”