Minneapolis — The Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM), has created a Web site to provide details about its expanding recycling efforts.
MRM, a joint venture of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Sharp Electronics and Toshiba America Consumer Products, said its site — www.MRMrecycling.com — was designed to assist manufacturers in meeting the compliance requirements of 16 recently enacted state recycling laws, many of which will come into effect in 2009 and 2010.
The three companies formed this joint venture to manage collection and recycling programs in the United States. The company began initial operations in Minnesota in September 2007 to manage collection and recycling programs in the United States.
According to a release, the site is built around a copyrighted compliance calendar that provides manufacturers with a simplified overview of registration, reporting and collection program requirements organized by date and state.
“The MRM calendar is designed to put all manufacturer requirements in one, easy-to-understand format, and advise manufacturers of the turn-key solutions that MRM is developing,” said MRM president David Thompson.
The release said MRM is serving 75 permanent drop-off points throughout Minnesota and that it is preparing for activities in other states.
The group said it also supports the recycling needs of 20 manufacturers, totaling more than 10 million pounds of discarded electronics per year in Minnesota.
“MRM was founded on the principle that the best way to achieve the economies of scale and efficiencies necessary to create a sustainable recycling system for used electronics is for an independent company to manage collaborative electronic recycling programs,” said Thompson. “While individual company programs are effective in servicing business customers and have played a role in moving the collection of consumer electronics forward, they cannot provide a viable, long-term comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by the electronics industry.”
MRM said it is in the process of developing collection and recycling programs in other states and jurisdictions, including Connecticut, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York City, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
“MRM looks forward to working with officials in these states and the manufacturing community to develop and operate a practical and efficient program that works for consumers and manufacturers,” said Thompson. “Cost-effective and environmentally sound recycling is vital for increasing the long-term sustainability of the electronics industry. This new company reflects the venture partners’ continued commitment to environmental responsibility.”
