Recycling of Consumer Electronics Doubles in 2013 from 2010

Recycling of consumer electronics set a record in 2013 and more than doubled from three years ago, according to a new study.

For the most recent year 620 million pounds of electronics were recycled in the United States, according to a report from the Arlington, Va.-based Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

The achievement in part was spurred by the eCycling Leadership Initiative, an industry effort led by CEA to increase collaboration among consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers, collectors, recyclers, non-governmental organizations and government at all levels, according to a news release.

The 2013 U.S. recycling total represents an increase of 35 million pounds from the 2012 level. Apple, Best Buy, Dell and DIRECTV were the leaders in recycling, the report concludes.

“We want to make recycling electronics as easy as purchasing electronics,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA president and CEO. “Electronics recycling is a national issue, and CEA continues to work toward a national solution to replace the complicated patchwork of rules that varies from state to state.”
 The initiative has a goal to increase electronics recycled to one billion pounds annually by 2016.