Sony's new in-store recycling program for small electronics gets an Earth Day launch

Ever wish there was an easy, convenient way to recycle older small electronics? Thanks to a new Sony recycling effort called GreenFill, recycling small electronics, such as digital cameras, cell phones, portable media players, and even laptop computers, could be as simple as dropping it into a box at a local retailer.

The GreenFill project is an extension of Sony's Take Back recycling program, which allows customers to drop off larger electronic products, such as TVs, at more than 270 drop-off locations. There's no charge for Sony-branded items, and other brands are accepted for a small fee. The Take Back program received the highest, albeit not exactly glowing, marks in a recent evaluation of manufacturers' TV recycling programs by the Electronics TakeBack Coalition.

The GreenFill recycling program, however, is free of charge, regardless of brand. Just bring your unwanted items into a participating retailer and drop them into a GreenFill e-Recycle Drop Box located inside the store. So far, 81 retail stores have joined the GreenFill program, and Sony expects others to join in coming months. You can find a list of permanent drop-off locations on Sony's green website.

Sony isn't the only consumer electronics company addressing environmental concerns. Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba have formed an "e-cycling" joint venture, called Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM), that's developing a national recycling program for TVs, DVD players, VCRs and other types of electronics. There's no charge to recycle Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba items; but most MRM sites accept all brands of electronics, though there may be a fee.

According to the MRM website, there are currently 280 drop-off sites—including at least one in every state—with plans to expand to 800 centers by 2011. You can get a list of MRM recycling centers in your area, as well more information about the type of products you can recycle, on the company's website. —James K. Willcox