This one of those great ideas that should have been implemented already but is just now taking shape. The electronic supermart Best Buy is now taking E-waste to be recycled. Imagine that: the store that sells more electronics than anyone else, is finally getting on the green bandwagon and offering to take in all those older computers, televisions, and other electronic gadgets, for free!

Because no other large retailer has attempted a program like this, Best Buy is doing this on a trial run basis to judge the potential impact. So far, it is limited to stores mainly in the upper Midwest, northern California, Virginia and Washington, D.C. It is hoped once all the bugs can be worked out of this system, Best Buy will offer this service at every one of their 900 plus stores. This will solve a huge recycling problem for people who don’t otherwise know what to do with their e-waste.

E-waste is one of those things not too many people think about. Virtually every modern electronic device has some form of heavy metal inside, as well as chemical coatings and coverings that will eventually leach out into any landfill where they are deposited. And although virtually every large sized community has some form of E-waste recycling program, they aren’t always convenient to use or easy to find. Having a Best Buy near you that will accept E-waste for free makes it easier to do the right thing and get those things where they belong, rather than into landfills.

While they won’t take everything, a quick call to the nearest Best Buy will give you the rundown on what they actually will accept. They will also let you know if they are a part of the recycling program itself. Since every Best Buy store has already been accepting things like cell phones, ink cartridges and dead batteries for recycling, they already have a core idea of how to expand the program and make it work. Having one major electronics retailer take this step will hopefully open the doors for others to do the same.

All I can say is kudos for Best Buy. A service implemented to help in the battle to dispose of E-waste properly, you've got to like that!

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