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Partnering for Sustainability – Success Stories
A Product Stewardship Institute Success Story – as presented by Scott Cassel, Executive Director
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was working on a national electronics management initiative. After 2 years they hadn’t achieved any retail involvement. The EPA ran an introductory workshop, at which the VP of Environmental Affairs from Staples suggested piloting an electronics take-back program.
A partnership was formed between Staples, PSI, and the EPA to launch a program to measure the success of retail-based electronics recycling. PSI collected data on electronics entering the recycling system from business and retail customers, and identified cost-effective ways for retailers to participate in a national electronics recycling system. The ultimate project goal was to develop and test a sustainable business model for long-term electronics collection and recycling and to provide a model for other retailers to adopt a similar program.
Staples was interested because it fit with their customer business model; it could enhance customer service & gain more customer loyalty; and they were assured by PSI’s research that there were a fixed set of costs, rather than endless costs.
Staples provided PSI with funding to design the project, track the implementation of it, do the data and technical work, and evaluate the project. EPA offered funding to implement the project. The recycler offered low-market costs. Five states and numerous local agencies became involved. Ten manufacturers also signed MOUs saying that they would pay for the recycling of their products as well as a percentage of the non-participating shares.
During the pilot collections, which ran for six weeks in 2004, Staples collected and recycled used computers, computer “peripherals” (such as keyboards, mice, and speakers), printers, scanners, fax machines, and desktop copiers from its customers at 27 retail stores and 14 businesses in five northeastern states. Rather than returning empty, trucks picked up the used electronics at the back end of their deliveries and transported the materials from multiple collection points to its distribution centers and on to the recycler.
Staples gained recognition as an industry leader, and the project improved employee and customer satisfaction. Staples recently developed an ongoing take-back program in 14 Seattle stores and they are looking to expand the program into other markets.
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