Take Back My TV
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Vizio Report Card
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| The Talk: | Vizio makes no mention of electronics recycling on its US website. In fact, they have no section addressing any environmental efforts or concerns. |
|
|---|---|---|
| The Walk: | Vizio has no takeback program. | |
| About Vizio: | Vizio is owned by AmTran Technology of Taiwan. An unknown brand just a few years ago, Vizio’s TV market share has grown very quickly in the US, by selling mostly through Costo and Wal-mart. They were tied (with Sharp) for #3 in flat panel sales in the 3rd quarter of 2008 (behind Samsung and Sony). It’s particularly troubling that they have such a large TV market share and yet no takeback program nor any other visible environmental program. |
|
| Category | Possible Points | Points Earned | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope of US takeback recycling program | 38 | 0 | |
| Offers free convenient national takeback recycling for their branded TVs for individual consumers | 25 | 0 | They have no recycling program in the US. |
| Offers free national takeback recycling for a larger scope of their branded products in addition to TVs | 8 | 0 | |
| Offers free national takeback recycling for other customers – not just individual consumers | 3 | 0 | |
| Offers to take products from other brands for free or a nominal charge | 2 | 0 | |
| Provides responsible recycling | 37 | 0 | |
| Signed Manufacturers Commitment to Responsible Electronics Recycling or other public commitment to not export to developing countries/use prison labor/landfill/incinerate toxic materials* | 15 |
0 |
No statements of any kind. |
| Publishes full recycling standards on company website | 5 | 0 | |
| Use only E-Stewards as recyclers | 5 | 0 | |
| Discloses recycling and refurbishing vendors on company website | 5 | 0 | |
| Discloses countries where final disposal/recycling of toxic materials occurs | 7 | 0 |
|
| Volumes and visibility | 15 | 0 | |
| Has ambitious collection and recycling goals expressed as a percent of sales or other measures |
2 | 0 | |
| Significant volume of e-waste collected and recycled nationally and publicly reported as a percent of sales or other measure | 10 |
0 | The vizio website has no information. |
| Easy to find recycling information on company website | 3 | 0 | No program, not even links to state mandated efforts. |
| Public policy |
10 | 0 | |
| Statement of support and active work in support of producer takeback recycling legislation with performance goals for manufacturers at the state level | 5 | 0 | No statement |
| Statement of support and active work on federal legislation to ban the export of toxic electronic waste to developing nations | 5 | 0 | No statement |
| Total Possible |
Total Earned |
||
| TOTAL SCORE |
100
|
0 |
F |
Press Coverage
Electronics Recycling - Who’s Responsible?
Recycling Today12-29-09 -- As the lawsuit challenging New York City’s electronics take-back law prepares for opening arguments in mid-January, industry associations and electronics recycling advocates wonder what effect the court’s ruling will have on the future of producer responsibility.
A Green Way to Dump Low-Tech Electronics
The New York Times06-30-09 -- The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 99.1 million televisions sit unused in closets and basements across the country. Consumer response to recycling has been enormous in states where the laws have taken effect.
LCD and plasma TV sales brighten retail picture
Los Angeles Times06-29-09 -- Slashed prices, the digital transition and a budget-prompted tendency to spend more time at home motivate consumers to upgrade their televisions.
