Oct. 2, 2008 - Waste Management Recycle America, a subsidiary of the trash-hauling giant, has adopted the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship for the dismantling and recycling of electronics waste. As a signatory of the pledge, WM Recycle America commits to conducting its electronics recycling programs transparently and in accord with rigorous environmental and worker safety standards. The company also pledges to:

Prevent hazardous e-waste from entering municipal incinerators or landfills Prevent the export of such e-waste to developing countries Provide visible tracking of e-waste throughout the product recycling chain

"Consumer and institutional electronics waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams," says Patrick DeRueda, president of WM Recycle America. "We know consumers want to insure their electronic products are disposed of safely."

The company is also partnering with Sony and LG Electronics to allow customers to drop off their Sony, LG, Zenith, or GoldStar branded electronics at more than 150 recycling centers across the U.S. The free program is working toward the goal of having a recycling center within 20 miles of 95% of the U.S. population.

WM Recycle America says it plans to nearly triple the total volume of materials it recycles by 2020, from the current 8 million tons to more than 20 million tons.

Parent company Waste Management has committed hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 12 years on a sweeping environmental initiative focused on developing new waste technologies and improving the company's environmental performance. Its Think Green campaign encourages consumers to recycle household e-waste such as fluorescent bulbs and batteries from their home or business.