FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ted Smith, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition -- 408-242-6707
Robin Schneider, Computer TakeBack Campaign -- 512-299-1640

(Las Vegas, NV) More than half of all U.S. households have electronics items in working condition that are no longer being used, according to a survey commissioned by eBay and the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) and conducted by the A.C. Neilson organization.

The survey results, announced at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, revealed that only 15 percent of Americans are aware that electronic items can be recycled. The majority of people don't know about the recycling options and possibilities in their local area.

"This provides further urgency for our campaign," said Ted Smith, Senior Strategist for the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. "We are glad eBay is supporting this effort. We need to undertake this monumental task in a responsible manner, so our electronic waste doesn't become someone else's toxic nightmare."

The new survey was released January 6, 2005 at the Consumer Electronics Show as part of the launch of Rethink, a new initiative by eBay in cooperation with SVTC, the Computer TakeBack Campaign (CTBC), and other industry, government and environmental partners.

When a computer is past its useful life, the Rethink site helps consumers find a responsible local recycler from a list developed by Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Basel Action Network and the Computer TakeBack Campaign.

"We established a "recycler's pledge" that holds recyclers to environmentally responsible standards of conduct," said Robin Schneider of the Computer TakeBack Campaign. "This includes, for instance, not sending electronic waste to developing countries for dangerous or environmentally destructive operations and not using prison labor where health and safety standards are grossly insufficient."

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), which has been a leader in the fight against e-waste for years, has worked with eBay to design the Rethink program.

Basel Action Network (BAN) has been working on toxic trade issues and the export of e-waste.

Computer TakeBack Campaign is leading efforts throughout the U.S. to require electronics producers to takeback their obsolete and hazardous products and design less toxic and more recyclable products.

Rethink: www.ebay.com/rethink/

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