Best Buy Joins The EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal Program
Partnership demonstrates Best Buy's commitment to help consumers save energy, reduce waste and protect the environment
Minneapolis, MN - Best Buy Co., Inc., a leading retailer of consumer electronics, today announced it has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program to promote environmentally responsible disposal of household appliances. Best Buy's voluntary participation in the RAD Program further underscores the company's commitment to help consumers' live more sustainable, digitally connected lives.
"Best Buy has helped consumers responsibly recycle old appliances and electronics for many years," said Leo Raudys, senior director, environmental affairs, Best Buy. "Our decision to partner with the EPA RAD Program is just one more way we can demonstrate our commitment to help consumers make more responsible choices with technology and appliances."
Through its role as a collector, Best Buy will help continue the recovery and proper disposal of other appliance waste streams such as Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury switches, and used oil. By joining the RAD partnership, Best Buy will add the capture and destruction or recycling of refrigerants and appliance insulating foam that contain CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs.
"By joining EPA's RAD Program Best Buy is ensuring that the refrigerant-containing appliances they collect will be disposed of using the best environmental practices available, which will help protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases," said Drusilla Hufford, Director for EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division. "We are pleased to welcome Best Buy as a RAD partner."
As part of Best Buy's commitment to protecting the environment, Best Buy has an extensive selection of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances which help prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. Best Buy also hauls away old appliances for free with every replacement purchased.
Best Buy recently set a goal to collect 1 billion pounds of old or obsolete electronics and appliances for recycling. In 2009, Best Buy recycling programs collected 120 million pounds of electronic goods from U.S. consumers, including 60 million pounds of electronics and 60 million pounds of appliances.
In October 2009, Best Buy was named "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among the Largest Appliance Retailers" by J.D. Power and Associates. Best Buy stores are staffed with in-store Appliance Specialists, ready to help customers find the best and most efficient products to fit their home's needs.
To learn more about the EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal Program (RAD), visit http://epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/rad/index.html. To learn more about Best Buy's recycling programs, visit www.bestbuy.com/recycling.
SOURCE: Best Buy Co., Inc.