NEC Introduces Eco-Care Recycling Program

Unlike Kermit the Frog, who has bemoaned being green, NEC Corporation of America embraces the concept of being green and is promoting it. The company's Eco-Care Recycling program was devised to help the electronics industry to responsibly take care of the millions of projectors that will be replaced going forward.

In a white paper describing the issue, NEC says the industry is facing a problem because many of the projectors that are currently in use will eventually be fazed out and dumped into landfills. Its projector-recycling plan is designed to properly dispose of projectors up to 40 pounds of size.

Additionally, NEC is offering a companion initiative called the PowerUp trade-in program, which enables participants to receive discounts for old projectors, which can be applied toward the purchase of a new projector.

Company Sensitive to Concerns

According to Bob Guentner, product marketing manager, NEC Visual Systems Division, the company's motivation for developing its eco programs stemmed from its anxiety over the future of the environment.

"The main reason NEC Corporation of America decided to introduce these recycling programs was out of concern for the environment," he explains. "NEC also wanted to meet customer's disposal needs and uphold the highest corporate responsibility standards."

Guentner adds that the program accepts any projector, and that once a unit is disposed of, NEC will send a certificate of disposal for each projector. He says that the program is supported even further by the trade-in option.

"The PowerUp Program gives you the power and flexibility to overcome aging technology and tight budgets so you can always be on top of the latest projector technology," Guentner notes. "The PowerUp Program offers cash for your pre-owned projector making your new NEC projector purchase even more affordable. The program is available for purchases of new NEC projectors direct from NEC or from an authorized NEC reseller."

Escalating Issue

Citing numbers from Pacific Media Associates (PMA), Guentner says that 5.4 million projectors were sold between 2003 and 2006, and that those products face a lifecycle of two to four years. He says that with millions of e-waste hitting landfills each year the impact of toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium could increase if these projectors aren't disposed of properly.

Beyond the eco benefits of the NEC programs, Guentner adds that there is now a method for electronics professionals to offer their clients a way to rid themselves of obsolete equipment while complying with federal, state and local laws.

From the consumer perspective, NEC says that consumers can get involved by seeking out dealers who are actively trying to conserve the earth's resources for future generations, while reducing the need for landfills and incinerators, which are expensive to run and are paid for by taxes.

Dealers interested in taking part in the Eco-Care program can email NEC at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 800-836-0655. NEC says it will follow up with a confirmation email or by sending out a form that needs to be filled out and sent back. Once a dealer is enrolled, NEC requires a nominal fee of $15 per projector plus shipping to send back products.

To sign up for NEC's PowerUp program, dealers can go to necsam.tradeups.com to get a free quote and shipping label.