TV manufacturers graded—and not well—on recycling efforts

A new TV Recycling Report Card is out from a non-profit advocacy group, evaluating TV manufacturers, and a few retailers, on their efforts. Many companies received flunking grades, reflecting gaps in existing TV producers' recycling programs and the significant number of companies who don't offer recycling at all.

The Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC), a nonprofit group of environmentalists and consumers, graded seventeen companies based on 15 criteria used to assess their recycling efforts, including whether programs are national, free, and convenient to consumers. Many of the criteria also address the handling of toxics found in TVs, which can pose hazards for recyclers and the environment.

Overall, the grades were mixed, but low, ranging from B- to F. The high score went to Sony, the first manufacturer to implement a national recycling program in the U.S. for TVs and other electronics, in August 2007. Runners-up were Samsung and LG, which both scored Cs. More than half of companies scored got Fs for their lack of recycling programs.

The handful of retailers that were included, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target were graded on their efforts to recycle house TV brands. Wal-Mart's recycling program with Samsung scored the best of that bunch with a "C."

ETBC released the report card with holiday shoppers in mind, as well as those looking to replace their TVs before the digital transition takes effect on February 17, 2009.

"We hope 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, ETBC's Executive Director. "Consumers can and should use their buying power to push this industry toward greener practices."

The good news is that Sony and Samsung, the highest scoring brands in the study, also make sets that often fare well in our performance tests, as reflected in our Ratings of TVs (available to subscribers).

—Kristi Wiedemann