CTA's ELI program creates history by recycling 700 Mln pounds of electronics

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that its eCycling Leadership Initiative (ELI) program has recycled record number of consumer electronics during 2015. Over 700 million pounds of consumer electronics were recycled by participating CE manufacturers and retailers, said the fifth annual report.

According to the report, 99.9% of the recycling facilitated by the Initiative's participants in 2015 was conducted by third-party certified recycling facilities. The state currently has more than 8,300 responsible recycling locations. The annual recycling total during the year has increased by more than 40 million pounds when matched with 2014. The year-on-year jump in recycling total stood at 6%. The recycling total has more than doubled when compared with the level of 300 million pounds before the inception of the ELI program in 2010.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA noted that recycling rates have managed to increase even as the industry creates less waste by innovating lighter, smaller devices. The recycling figures have improved for the fifth year in a row, he noted.

Since 2010, CTA has implemented an ambitious consumer outreach program in conjunction with the eCycling Leadership Initiative. In 2011, CTA launched GreenerGadgets.org to help consumers locate the closest responsible recycling location by entering their zip code. CTA has also partnered with Recyclebank in an attempt to motivate individuals and communities to live more sustainably. It had also partnered with Young Minds Inspired to launch an educational initiative on ecycling. Earlier this year, CTA had joined the Recycling Partnership in a bid to improve curbside recycling efforts.

Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), is the trade association representing the $287 billion U.S. consumer technology industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships.