The increased use of electronics products has dramatically changed and improved our lives. With the many benefits associated with use and enjoyment of new technologies comes a responsibility.  In recognition of this responsibility, Panasonic spearheaded the formation of a new electronics recycling entity, the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (MRM).  Joining Panasonic are two other leading manufacturers, Sharp Electronics Corporation and Toshiba America Consumer Products, LLC.

Panasonic’s leadership in establishing the first state-wide manufacturer run program in Minnesota has been recognized by 10 other leading electronics manufacturers who have joined as customers of the collective.  Although MRM’s initial focus is to collect products in Minnesota, plans are in development to expand MRM activities to other states with electronic product recycling mandates. 

The MRM efforts were preceded by Panasonic’s Shared Responsibility Program, under which our company (working with other manufacturers) sponsored 1,477 events in 29 States since 2000 that helped to collect and recycle 32,332,151 pounds of unwanted electronics. The states included California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.  Panasonic continues to support this program.

During the 2007 calendar year alone, Panasonic participated in 154 events and helped keep approximately 3.3 million pounds of discarded electronics from ending up in landfills.  Please click here for a complete listing of events and totals by state through December 2007.

Beyond our support of collection events across the country, Panasonic has identified several interactive online resource tools to help guide consumers to local electronics recycling opportunities.  One useful tool, E-cycling Central allows consumers to enter their home state and view a listing of recyclers along with additional information on electronics recycling.  A separate website coordinated through the Consumer Electronics Association allows visitors to type in their zip code to find nearby recyclers.  This site, my green electronics, also provides maps and additional recycling information to consumers including answers to frequently asked questions. 

At Panasonic we continue to advocate the sustainable and environmentally sound management of electronic products at their end of life. We firmly believe it is our societal obligation to develop an environmentally conscious plan to recycle our end of life products.