USPS permits free recycling of electronics and printer cartridges

One man's dross is another man's gold.

A new “mail back” program launched this month by the US Postal Service will distribute free mailers in the lobbies of 1,500 post offices, enabling consumers to send their obsolete cell phones, empty inkjet cartridges, and other small electronics free of charge to Clover Technologies Group for recycling. Clover is footing the bill for the postage.

If the items cannot be refurbished and resold, their component parts are reused to refurbish other kinds of products, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled.

The pilot program will extend to 10 markets, and will expand nationally if successful.

The USPS recycled 1 million pounds of paper and plastic last year. It is the only shipping or mailing company to win the Cradle to Cradle Certification from McDonough Braungart Design, the firm run by Academy Fellow William McDonough. Apple has offered a similar program for their iPod product line since 2005, and introduced its Take-Back Program in 2006. Americans discard some 400,000 cell phones every day. They can be proffit, not waste.

Source: World Business Academy (www.worldbusiness.org)