Moving the Giant - Getting Walmart to Recycle

 

Today Walmart released its 2012 Global Responsibility Report, which touted waste reduction as its #1 achievement in 2011. But despite the thousands of letters you and other TCE supporters have sent the company, Walmart has still not agreed to start recycling old electronics. We need you to help step up the pressure now!

Take action through social media:  You can post the following message, or paraphrase it in your own words:

"I am contacting Walmart to request electronic waste recycling options nationwide, something that Best Buy already does. Over 25,000 people have already sent letters to your company asking for this program, yet all you have responded with is a limited trade-in program. When will you do something to offer all your customers free and convenient recycling for their old electronics?"

Why Walmart?

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, and 13% of its sales comes from entertainment products such as TVs, computers, monitors and iPads. Walmart needs to step up to the plate--it should be just as easy to recycle old electronics as it is to purchase new ones.

TCE began the "Take it Back Walmart" campaign in the fall of 2011, and we're already seeing the company start to respond. Last week Walmart decided to re-launch its trade-in program so customers who buy new electronics can trade in their obsolete products at the same time. (Unfortunately this program only covers small electronics like MP3 players and cell phones.) This is a step forward, and it shows that your letters are having an impact, but it's certainly not enough. We need Walmart to match Best Buy and start offering free electronics recycling for everyone.

Please , and be sure to encourage others to do the same: Forward this to a friend and post it on your own favorite social media sites!

Thank you,

Robin Schneider
Executive Director

 

Submitted by Robin Schneider on Wed, 04/18/:46pm

Comments

This would move away that we

Submitted by mheiz2524 on Mon, 10/21/:50am.

This would move away that we can get something better way for all this things. -

So, 13 percent of Walmart's

Submitted by georgeD on Sat, 06/23/:28am.

So, 13 percent of Walmart's sales comes from electronics products. I think it is now the time for the company to work with the problem. It should be their way of giving back to the people.

Wal-Mart Electronics Recycling

Submitted by Grande Verde on Mon, 04/30/:18am.

Robin, you and your organization are so mis-informed about this subject. Also, this leads you to mis-inform others as well. Whether Wal-Mart recycles electronics or not isn't the issue. Best Buy, Goodwill or others will take your old electronics. Also most OEMs who make electronics will either take them back directly or send you to a drop off point. Just go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website and you can find the list. The real issue is that by falsely pushing the big evil Wal-Mart to recycle you take away from the real issue which is changing the laws in Texas to improve how electronics are recycled. By pushing your agenda you will only force electronics to be shipped out of the state of Texas or at least transported multiple times across the state burning huge amounts of fuel. Secondly, by removing these electronics out of the state you are keeping local recyclers from growing their companies and hiring local employees. Currently electronics can still be place in a Texas landfill yet I don't see you or your organization doing anything about that! I have worked for some of the top recyclers in the USA and know this business. You and your organization should get educated before distorting the facts around this issue.