CEA Study Finds More People Recycling Electronics, But More Discarding As Well

A new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that electronics recycling receives the continued and growing support of consumers. According to the CEA,s Recycling and Reuse Study, 2014 Edition, more than four-fifths of U.S. adults (82 percent) say recycling old electronics is important or very important to them, and slightly fewer than one-third of consumers surveyed (30 percent) had personally recycled electronics products in the past year, a four percent increase from 2012.

“We’re pleased to see continued consumer support for electronics recycling, especially as the power of innovation brings new and better products to market faster than ever,” comments CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro, “Our industry has more than doubled the amount of consumer electronics recycling over the past three years. And this study makes it clear that our ongoing consumer engagement and recycling education programs are more important than ever.”

The study also highlights the influence of family members and friends on consumers’ decisions about the electronics recycling process. According to the survey, of the 53 percent of electronics owners who donated a device to someone else during the past year, friends and family were the most common recipients (66 percent). Also, nearly half of consumers (42 percent) first learned how to recycle their old devices by word of mouth from friends, family or co-workers.

The comprehensive consumer recycling survey, conducted every two years, is part of CEA’s efforts to help guide the industry’s recycling initiatives and support sensible electronics recycling policy. Among the other survey results:

The survey found about three in five (59 percent) U.S. adults know where they can recycle electronics, a slight decline from 2012 (63 percent) but on par with 2010 results (58 percent). Almost all consumers surveyed (98 percent) say they would travel some distance to recycle unwanted electronics, and more than one-third (36 percent) would travel more than 10 miles to do so, while a solid 82 percent affirmed that’ recycling their old electronics is important or very important to them, four percent fewer than in 2012 (86 percent).

And while the percentage of consumer recycling is up, but so is the percentage of those who discard – 18 percent of consumers say they discarded electronics devices in the trash during the last year, a six point increase from 2012.

“Whether it’s through our electronics recycler locator, public service announcements, educational partnerships or the thousands of electronics collection locations our industry sponsors, CEA is committed to empowering consumers to recycle their used electronics,” says’ Walter Alcorn, CEA vice president, environmental affairs and industry sustainability. “Our industry has now picked up the recycling tab for billions of pounds of old devices – a truly unprecedented effort led by manufacturers of televisions, computers and similar consumer electronics devices.”

Through GreenerGadgets.org, CEA helps consumers learn how to live green, buy green and recycle responsibly, while helping lower their energy consumption, shrink their carbon footprint and reduce waste. For more informatioVisit the website to find the closest responsible electronics recycler to your home and learn more about CEA’s recycling curriculum, developed in partnership with Young Minds Inspired.

The Recycling and Reuse Study, 2014 Edition was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the technology trade association with more than 2,000 companies, representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. The complete report is available at no cost to CEA member companies at members.CE.org . Non-members may purchase the report in the CEA Store.

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