Consumer recycling of electronics products are steadily increasing, according to new data released by the EPA, with rates rising from 30.6% in 2012 to 40.4% in 2013. The Advanced Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Facts and Figures report demonstrates that the large increase in consumer recycling coincides with the implementation of the SMM Electronics Challenge by the EPA, a program that encourages donation and recycling of used electronics.
As part of the challenge, participants are expected to send 100% of used electronics to a recognized, third-party certified recycler by the third year of participation in the program, in addition to publicly reporting the information. The EPA also notes that 2012 was the first year of the Food Recovery Challenge, which has seen over 700 participants join to date and has played a role in the 87 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste that was recycled and composted in 2013, providing an annual reduction of 187 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
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