The area's only year-round program of its kind exceeds all expectations in its first year of operation
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — July 31, 2007 — In its first year of operation, Crutchfield's regional electronics recycling program took in more than 125 tons of old TVs, computers, stereos and other outdated gear, far surpassing the expectations of the local solid waste authority.
To get a mental picture of those 125 tons, imagine finding room in a landfill for 1,667 big screen TVs weighing 150 pounds each. A stack of such TVs would be more than a mile high.
When Crutchfield launched the program August 1, 2006, Tom Frederick, executive director of the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority estimated that Crutchfield’s service would keep 15-20 tons per year of local electronic waste out of landfills. A year later, Frederick had this to say, "Crutchfield's electronics recycling program has been a tremendous success story, and we are very pleased it has exceeded everyone’s expectations. It also speaks very well for our citizens and for a cleaner environment."
The tremendous response to the program (the region's first permanent, year-round electronics recycling center), has been an eye-opener for Crutchfield, too.
"We knew there was a pent-up demand for electronics recycling," said John Haydock, Crutchfield's senior vice president of marketing, "so we weren't that surprised by the huge piles of gear we received in the first few weeks. But to keep it up like we have for a full year has been a pleasant surprise. When people in our community find a good solution, they aren’t shy about telling their neighbors."
Discarded electronic components can cause serious problems in a landfill. In a personal computer, for example, there may be lead in the cathode ray tube (CRT) and soldering compound, mercury in switches and the housing, and cobalt in steel components, among other potentially harmful substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than four million tons of electronic waste go to U.S. landfills each year. Recycling them saves landfill space and keeps these chemicals from harming the environment.
The location for recycling is Crutchfield's Rio Hill store, located at 1784 Rio Hill Center. Eligible items may be dropped off during regular business hours (Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m) – no appointment necessary. Nominal fees are charged to cover the cost of handling, storage, and transportation of the recycled items. Fees can be paid and small items can be dropped off at the Rio Hill Store's customer service desk. Store personnel will help unload large items.
Customers buying a new item to replace an old one can bring in the old one and have it recycled for free. If the new product requires delivery, the delivery team will remove the old one for free. Charlottesville-area residents who have questions may visit crutchfield.com/recycling or contact Jude DeFrank or Dave Hall at (434) 817-1100. Harrisonburg-area residents can drop off items at Crutchfield's Harrisonburg store, and they may call Dan Peterson at (540) 434-1000.
About Crutchfield Corporation
Crutchfield Corporation, which celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2007, is the nation's first integrated marketer (catalog, call center, and Internet) of consumer electronics products. Since its introduction in 1974, the Crutchfield catalog has been a respected authority on car and home entertainment products, winning multiple awards for quality, design, and usefulness. Crutchfield's Sales, Customer Service and Technical Advisors are noted for their high integrity, product expertise, and technical support. They are available by phone, e-mail, and live online chat. Crutchfield.com offers a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. Crutchfield was the first vendor-authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet and has been recognized for call center operation customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center ProgramSM. It is also one of only two retailers to have won BizRate's coveted "Circle of Excellence" award seven times.
For more information, press only:
Bridgette King/Crutchfield Public Relations
Tel: 954.937.9616
bridgette@getthescoop.com
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