Best Buy working to improve electronics recycling

Richfield, Minn. Federal E-Waste legislation proposed to improve electronics recycling nationwide is seeing strong support from Best Buy Co.

The retailer, Minnesota’s electronics recycling industry and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) unveiled proposed federal legislation Sunday at the Richfield, Minn. Best Buy store that seeks to improve the recycling of electronics across the United States.

The bill, the Electronic Device Recycling and Research and Development Act, is the first step in bringing together manufacturers, retailers, recyclers and research institutes to help find solutions to the problem of e-waste.

If passed, the bill will create research and development grants for universities, government labs, and private industry; call for a study by the National Academy of Science to look at barriers and opportunities to increase electronic device recycling and reduce the use of hazardous materials in electronic products; and direct the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants available for curriculum development for engineering students and professionals in electronics manufacturing, and in design, refurbishing and recycling industries.