Consumer awareness of the e-waste threat is rising, according to a recent survey by Pike research.
About 75 percent of the 1,000 Americans surveyed believe that recycling is the most appropriate way to handle unused, broken or obsolete electronics.
But while most agreed that recycling is the answer to the mounting problem, the methods for recycling are a little less conclusive.
About 37 percent of consumers felt that electronics recycling should be free while 14 percent felt it was the consumers’ burden to pay and 10 percent felt it was the manufacturer’s responsibility.
An additional 35 percent of those who believed in free recycling thought there should be a curbside program similar to bottle and paper collection.
According the study, the average consumer has about 2.8 pieces of unused, broken or out-of-date electronics in their home. The study doesn’t say much about why the electronics are not recycled, but they did find that most consumers estimate the average cost of collecting, hauling, and recycling a single piece of used electronics equipment is $12. Interestingly enough, Pike found that the true cost is more than $20.
There is still a ways to go before a more universal system for handling e-waste is adopted. E-waste remains on the rise and is expected to reach 73 metric tons by 2010.
Consumers will play a key role in determining the success of any electronics recycling programs.
“In order for the industry to achieve its goals, consumer values, attitudes, and behavior will need to support responsible handling of end-of-life electronics equipment. Popular sentiment is also essential to support the political will of governments as they strive to mitigate e-waste issues through legislation and regulation,” says Pike Managing Director Clint Wheelock.
It’s not all doom and gloom for e-waste news however. Pike also released a report in May estimating that electronic trash will plateau by 2015 and then decline as companies and governments continue to expand their current recycling initiatives to match production.
