| A few years ago, when environmentalists
in Washington State began agitating to rid local dumps of toxic old computers
and televisions, they found an unexpected ally: Hewlett-Packard Co. Teaming up
with greens and retailers, hp took on IBM, Apple Computer, and several major TV
manufacturers, which were resisting recycling programs because of the
costs. Aided by hp's energetic lobbying, the greens persuaded state lawmakers to adopt a landmark program that forces electronics companies to foot the bill for recycling their old equipment. "This bill puts our market-based economy to work for the environment," said Washington Governor Christine O. Gregoire as she signed the plan into law on Mar 24. The movement to recycle electronic refuse, or "e-waste," is spreading across the nation, and so is hp's clout. The company helped the greens win a big battle in Maine, In 2004 when the state passed the nation's first e-waste "take-back" law. Washington followed suit. Now, Minnesota and New Jersey are preparing to act, and 19 other states are weighing legislation. Activists hope to banish high-tech junk from landfills and scrub the nation's air and water of lead, chromium, mercury, and other toxins prevalent in digital debris, hp's efforts have made it the darling of environmentalists. They say take-back laws are more effective at getting digital junk recycled than point-of-sale fees, which tax consumer electronics products to fund state-run recycling programs. They're also pleased because effective programs in the U. S. reduce the likelihood that the products will be shipped to less developed countries and disassembled under unsafe conditions. But hp's agenda isn't entirely altruistic. Take-back laws play to the company's strategic strengths. For decades the computer maker has invested in recycling infrastructure, a move that has lowered its production costs, given it a leg up in the secondary market for equipment, and allowed it to build a customer service out of "asset management," which includes protection of dam that might remain on discarded gear. In 2005, hp recycled more than 70 000 tons of product, the equivalent of about 10% of company sales and a 15% increase from the year before. And it collected more than 2.5 million units (in excess of 25 000 tons) of hardware to be refurbished for resale or donation. No other electronics maker has a resale business on this scale. But the others may soon wish to emulate hp. "We see legislation coming," says David Lear, hp's vice-president for corporate, social, and environmental responsibility. "A lot of companies haven't stepped up to the plate.... If we do this right, it becomes an advantage to us." |