Panasonic and other consumer electronics companies act to triple annual recycling by 2016

Starting with voluntary collection and recycling efforts in 1999, Panasonic has led the industry in creating responsible recycling opportunities for its customers. Today Panasonic supports over 1,200 recycling drop-off locations and has recycled over 30,000,000 pounds of end-of-life electronic products. The company announced plans earlier this year to achieve at least 1600 convenient sites by 2012.

Acting to expand its own long-standing recycling programs, Panasonic joined with Sharp Electronics Corporation and Toshiba America Information Systems Company to create the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company LLC, the first manufacturer-managed electronics product stewardship organization in the United States. Also known as MRM, the organization now works with more than 30 manufacturers to manage collection programs in 15 different states, and expects to expand this role further in 2011 and beyond.