Sony to Host Free Electronics Recycling Event in Mountain View, California

To encourage consumers to recycle old, no longer working or unwanted electronics products, Sony Electronics is inviting Bay Area residents to recycle any brand of outdated electronics for free at a drive-up event on March 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shoreline Amphitheater. Drivers of the first 2,000 cars to drop off unwanted electronics will receive a voucher for a Sony product valued at $100, which can be redeemed at Sony Style stores at the Valley Fair or Stanford shopping centers.

The event is tied to Sony Electronics’ Take Back Recycling program, which provides free recycling for Sony products at more than 270 permanent drop-off sites in nearly every state in the country.

With support from Waste Management and others, Sony has also hosted more than 100 recycling events like the one coming to Mountain View, where all brands of electronics can be recycled for free. These special events have helped increase awareness about the Take Back program and the permanent drop-off sites that are available nationwide.

This national program is bringing attention to the growing issue of e-waste and alternatives to trashing electronics, which through the recycling of their components can be re-used in new products — with greenhouse emissions reduced in the process.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans trash more than 130,000 computers and 350,000 cell phones every day. By recycling old electronics products, such useful materials as glass, plastic and metals can be collected and re-used in the manufacturing of new products.

Since Sony’s Take Back Recycling program began, more than 14 million pounds of electronic waste have been collected. The company expects that number to grow exponentially as the program continues.

As part of its ongoing efforts to help consumers recycle electronic devices safely, Sony is picking up most of the funding for this weekend’s event so residents will not need to pay for their electronics to be properly recycled. Funds from the California recycling fee that consumers pay when they purchase a new television or computer monitor will also be used to support this event.

Sony Electronics and Waste Management are signatories to the Basel Action Network’s Manufacturers’ Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling. The action signifies the companies’ agreement to conduct electronics recycling programs transparently and in accord with rigorous environmental and worker safety standards, and adhere to measures to prevent the export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries.

“Sony continues to provide consumers with a convenient option to dispose of their unwanted electronics,” said Mike Fasulo, executive vice president of Sony Electronics with management oversight for the company’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives. “Our environmental stewardship and social responsibility remain top priorities for us.”

Scrap electronics that will be accepted at the event include televisions, computers, monitors, cameras, videogame consoles, cellular phones, rechargeable batteries and printers. Items that will not be accepted include microwave ovens, humidifiers, thermometers, air conditioners, smoke/fire alarms or detectors, and large household appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators and washer/dryers.

More information about acceptable products and concerning processing procedures is available by calling 877-439-2795. Recycling options available after the March 28 event and a complete list of permanent drop-off centers can be found at www.sony.com/recycle.