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The Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition (CERC) comprises major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, focusing on creating effective national e-recycling solutions. Our members implement robust take-back programs and advocate for a unified approach to e-recycling that emphasizes manufacturer responsibility and flexibility. We highlight the need to simplify regulations, support consumer education, and remove barriers to interstate commerce, ensuring that e-recycling practices meet modern retail environments' demands while protecting the planet.
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Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition (CERC) E-Scrap Conference September 23, 2009
Who We Are • CERC is a public policy organization consisting of the major retailers of consumer electronics products and two of the nation’s major retail industry trade associations. • Our members include Amazon.com, Best Buy, RadioShack, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. • Members operate in all 50 states and territories and combined employ well over three million people.
What We Do / E-Recycling • All CERC members have national electronics recycling and take-back plans in place right now (as well as on other products). • Industry ‘best practices’ programs includes: a retailer taking back almost any electronic device - for a $10 recycling fee in exchange for a $10 store gift card. • All CERC retailers lay out their national plans on their company websites
A Need for a National Approach • CERC supports a national approach to e-recycling. • Built on the principles of manufacturer responsibility and flexible implementation - rather than a patch work of state by state solutions. • Products are developed, marketed and sold on a national and global basis. • The patchwork of state e-recycling laws is a serious impediment to interstate commerce.
CERC National Approach Principals • Keep the Process Simple – Do not over Bureaucratize • Manufacturer Responsibility - Allow for ‘Flexibility’ • Of states that have adopted e-recycling laws, all but one have adopted manufacturer responsibility • Only CA has adopted an Advanced Recovery Fee (ARF) • A Manufacturers Responsibility Bill should Encourage Flexibility, Innovation and Voluntarism
CERC National Approach Principals (con’t.) • Retailer Responsibility • Our members are private label manufacturers as well • Importation of a product should not classify importer as manufacturer • Allow sell through provisions • Reporting • No disclosure of proprietary information; data best extracted from national sales data
CERC National Approach Principals (con’t.) • Consumer Education • Realistic, flexible and appropriate for a high volume retail environment. • Retailers can provide CED consumers useful information about recycling options for consumers. • Retailers should be given flexibility to implement education efforts in a way that does not slow productivity or check-out time. • References to “point of sale” should be avoided. • Information can be provided in printed form for in-store sales and in printable form for Internet sales.
The Retail Environment • We are national leaders on the e-recycling front. • Already have slim to non-existent margins. • A recovering economy - Circuit City, 30,000 jobs lost.
Christopher A. McLean Executive Director The Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition 317 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 202.292.4600 chris@cercteam.com