LG Electronics USA Joins Forces with EPA on Responsible Electronics Recycling

ROMEOVILLE, Ill., Sept. 20, 2012 /3BL Media/ - Building on its leadership in responsible electronics recycling, LG Electronics USA has joined forces with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a charter participant in the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge launched here today by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

LG is committed to supporting the EPA’s SMM Electronics Challenge goal of advancing the responsible management of used electronics by voluntarily committing to sending 100 percent of used electronics collected for reuse and recycling to third-party certified recyclers, increasing the total amount of used electronics collected for reuse and recycling, and publicly posting information and data.

Consistent with President Obama’s National Electronics Stewardship Strategy, LG’s support for the SMM Electronics Challenge reflects the company’s already strong commitment to leadership in the e-waste arena.  In fact, LG Electronics USA collected and responsibly recycled more than 15 million pounds of unused and unusable electronics in 2011.

“LG is proud to support the EPA’s Electronics Challenge, and we are pledging to achieve Gold status in this important program,” said Wayne Park, president and CEO, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “By joining the Challenge, we’re committing to refurbishing and recycling even more used electronics. And, by using third-party certified recyclers we’re are helping to drive the use of environmentally protective practices.”

According to the EPA, SMM Gold is the highest-level status designed for organizations with exemplary, well-developed collection programs that are sending 100 percent by weight of the total amount of used electronics collected from all streams for recycling and reuse to third-party certified recycling vendors, while going above and beyond third-party certification standards.

Underscoring its commitment to responsible electronics recycling LG Electronics Inc. is the first Basel Action Network (BAN) “Global e-Stewards Enterprise.” The international e-Stewards standard, among the world’s most rigorous certification programs for electronics recyclers, prevents the export and dumping of toxic electronic waste in developing countries. It also calls safeguards to ensure workers in recycling plants are not exposed to toxic dusts.

“Sustainability is a core value at LG,” said Park. “From our industry-leading commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2020,* to our ambitious efforts to bring high efficiency ENERGY STAR® qualified products to market, LG is committed to enhancing consumers’ lives through innovation. Life’s good when you live green.”

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* Compared with a 2007 baseline.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life's Good” marketing theme. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.  For more information, please visit www.lg.com.