ELECTRONIC WASTE

As You Sow began promoting a circular economy for electronics in the mid 2000s with our Electronic Waste Recycling initiative, working with companies like Dell, HP, and Apple to develop in-house take-back programs. Even with 25 state laws requiring that brands take responsibility for take back and collection of end-of-life electronics, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that less than 25% of electronic waste is recovered for recycling.

BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING

As You Sow engaged beverage companies to set container recycling and recycled content goals and beverage and food retailers to take responsibility for collection and recycling of beverage and food containers left in their restaurant and stores. Much of this work now takes place under the Consumer Packaging initiative.

PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE

Lack of free, convenient programs for proper disposal of unneeded or expired consumer prescription drugs and accessories contributes to water pollution, illicit drug use, drug addiction, and threats to sanitation workers. Consumers lacking drug disposal programs in their communities often flush old drugs down the drain or toilet, contributing to water …

CARPET RECYCLING

The U.S. carpet industry lags in actions to make discarded carpets recyclable and commitments to ensure that they are collected and recycled.

As companies incorporate circular economy framing into their sustainability programs, it is important to ensure that products are designed to be recycled, that programs are operating to ensure that recycling actually occurs, and that carpet manufacturers are shouldering their fair share of responsibility to make it happen.