March 28, 2008 - Attendees at Philips' shareholders meeting in Amsterdam yesterday encountered bright yellow banners and a 26-foot robot made from old electronics parts as Greenpeace activists protested the company's policy on post-consumer recycling, Reuters reports.

The environmental watchdog group wants Philips to take responsibility for recycling or properly disposing of its products after consumers have finished with them. "Philips should take responsibility for its own e-waste," said a Greenpeace spokeswoman. "Philips has to set up collection systems in all countries where it puts products on the market. In this way, Philips can prevent the e-waste ending up in developing countries."

Many electronics manufacturers, Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba, have taken the lead on such product "takeback" programs.

Philips CEO Gerard Kleisterlee, speaking at the shareholders meeting, said most of the burden for electronics recycling should rest with governments and consumers.

In November, Philips scored 17th out of 18th on Greenpeace's annual scorecard rating electronics manufacturers on environmental performance.