CEA releases findings of electronics recycling survey

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The "Recycling and Reuse Study, 2014 Edition" released by Arlington-based Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) indicates increased support to electronics recycling from US consumers. Over the past three years, electronics recycling has almost doubled, it says.

According to the report, 59% of the survey participants were aware about locations where consumer electronics can be properly recycled. The rate dropped slightly when compared with the 2012 result of 63%.

The survey also found that 30% of consumers have recycled electronics during the past year. 82% of survey respondents said that recycling of old electronics is important or very important to them. However, the results witnessed a drop of 4% when compared with the 2012 result of 86%.

Also, 98% of the participants indicated that they were willing to travel short distances in order to recycle obsolete electronics. However, only 36% expressed willingness to travel distances in excess of 10 miles to dispose unwanted goods.

The study also found that along with consumer recycling, disposal rate of electronic goods in trash has also risen sharply during the year. 18% of consumers admitted that they discarded electronics in trash, higher by 6% points when compared with 2012.

The trade association conducts the survey every two years as part of the association’s efforts to guide the industry’s recycling initiatives and support sensible electronics recycling policy.

CEA is the industry authority on market research and forecasts, consumer surveys, legislative and regulatory news, engineering standards and training resources. It unites 2,000 companies within the consumer technology industry.