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Panasonic wants to make you green

Panasonic Announces Nationwide TV and Consumer Electronics Recycling Program

Eric Franklin Former Editorial Director
Eric Franklin led the CNET Tech team as Editorial Director. A 20-plus-year industry veteran, Eric began his tech journey testing computers in the CNET Labs. When not at work he can usually be found at the gym, chauffeuring his kids around town, or absorbing every motivational book he can get his hands on.
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  • Once wrote 50 articles in one month.
Eric Franklin

How to best recycle electronics is a problem I've had to deal with more than a few times at CNET. I have to be honest, during busy work cycles, the garbage bin has looked very appealing as an easy out when an obsolete laptop or graphics card needs discarding.

Luckily for me, and my relatively weak will, more companies are starting to provide support for consumers that want to dispose of their old electronics with a clear conscience. On Thursday, Panasonic announced that it is creating a nationwide program designed to provide consumers "convenient and easy" recycling of Panasonic branded TVs and other consumer electronics from the company.

The program will roll out in 10 states with more than 160 drop-off locations on November 1, 2008. Consumers seeking to dispose of their Panasonic branded equipment can do so free of charge. During the next three years, Panasonic plans to expand the program to all 50 states.

According to Panasonic, promoting employee and public awareness of environmental responsibility is one central element of its worldwide environmental initiatives. The company also pledges to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tons by 2010 and to introduce products that are easier to recycle and increasingly more energy efficient.

Additional details on the program's expansion will be announced in January.