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| Take-back
& Recycling Policy |
LG Electronics realizes
that simply complying with the (limited) existing take-back
laws is not enough.
In many regions in the world the first steps in initiating take-back
regulations and the set-up of a collection infrastructure have
yet to be taken. LGE is committed to being involved in these
processes and supports the introduction of take-back systems
that are economically viable and take eco-design aspects into
consideration. LGE is currently evaluating various take-back
models to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
While collective recycling schemes have achieved considerable
environmental benefits at a reasonable cost, they do not provide
direct eco-design incentives for individual manufacturers. Take-back
systems based on the individual producers' responsibilities
may provide such incentives. LGE supports the introduction of
individual producers' responsibilities for future waste and
hopes that technically and economically feasible identification
solutions become available on the market in the near future.
LGE will keep investigating different ways to incorporate eco-design
incentives into global take-back systems
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| Guidance on
Proper End-of-Life Product Disposal |
Background:
Importance of end-of-life product disposal
The proper disposal of your old electrical appliances will contribute
to resource conservation and prevent potential negative consequences
for the environment and human health.
Action required by users
Electrical products need to be collected separately from the
municipal waste stream via designated collection facilities
appointed by the government or the local authorities.
Separate collection points
The manner in which separate collection is arranged may differ
according to the municipality. Information, such as the address
and opening hours of the waste collection point, can be found
in your town's guide or on its website, or via a waste disposal
service company or store.
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| Korea |
| Korean producers
began a mandatory recycling system in 2003 for
refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, air conditioners
and PCs. Audio devices and mobile phones were
added in 2005.
LG Electronics forged an voluntary agreement with
the Ministry of Environment in 2000 to implement
the producers’ collection and recycling
system for End-of-Life products with the industry.
Recycling Center
LG Electronics established Chilseo Recycling Center
of its own(11BL Industry Daechi Ri Chilseo Myeon,
Haman Gun, Kyeong Nam, Korea, 82-55-586-0420)
in August 2001. It also started as Metropolitan
Area Recycling Center with the electronics industry
in May 2003. |
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Collection
of End-of-Life products
LG Electronics collects End-of-Life products - regardless
of their makers - from customers, when they buy new LG
products through distributors, agencies or service centers,
which is then sent to the recycling centers by our own
logistics channels. |
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Units(EA) recycled by LGE |
| Product |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| Refrigerator |
161,165 |
172,618
|
180,846 |
245,800 |
| Washing Machine |
178,198 |
169,654 |
213,181 |
218,054 |
| Air Conditioner |
4,965 |
16,732 |
13,818 |
13,500 |
| TV |
129,065 |
134,893 |
180,000 |
171,735 |
| Monitor |
19,885 |
18,100 |
45,000 |
25,574 |
| Audio |
4,927 |
4,360 |
4,700 |
6,801 |
| Mobile & Etc |
27,062 |
29,995 |
106,797 |
53,297 |
| TOTAL |
525,267 |
546,352 |
744,342 |
734,761 |
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| Japan |
| With the home
appliances recycling act that has taken effect in 2001, recycling
of refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and
TVs is required. LG Electronics, Matsushita, JVC and other
companies belonging to Ecology Net(Twin 21 National Tower,
1-61, Shiromi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka Japan, 81-6-6949-2244)
joined efforts to recycle certain End-of-Life home appliances
from November 2000. |
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Home Appliance and PC Recycled
(Fiscal year based) |
| Product |
2004 |
2005 |
| Units
recycled |
Recycling
ratio (%) |
Units
recycled |
Recycling
ratio (%) |
| Refrigerator |
2,802 |
64 |
2,820 |
66 |
| Washing Machine |
2,813 |
68 |
2,953 |
75 |
| Air Conditioner |
1,814 |
82 |
1,990 |
84 |
| TV |
3,787 |
81 |
3,857 |
77 |
| Monitor |
397 |
74 |
447 |
76 |
| PC |
505 |
66 |
556 |
68 |
| TOTAL |
12,118 |
- |
12,623 |
- |
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| Europe |
| The European
Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
came into force 13 August 2005, and was transposed into national
law in almost every EU Member State. Under this Directive,
producers are made responsible for the collection and environmentally
sound treatment of their end-of-life products currently being
discarded by consumers. In compliance with the WEEE Directive,
LGE has become a member of waste management schemes recognized
by national authorities and is paying its shares of recycling
fees. Irrespective of the method of recycling cost allocation
to be used in the future, LGE guarantees it will always fulfill
its financial obligations.
Waste management schemes
LGE is a member of the following waste management schemes:
Information for recyclers |
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| LG Electronics, upon
the request of a recycler dealing with one of our
equipment released in the market after August 13,
2005, provides information on the “positive presence”
of materials and components that comply with the
‘EICTA, CECED and EERA Joint Position Guidance on
Implementing Article 11 of Directive 2002/96/EC
Concerning Information for Treatment Facilities’.
Any question will be handled reasonably. |
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| North America
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| In North America,
it is not the federal government, but rather the state or
provincial governments that enforce take-back and recycling
regulations.
In the U.S., the state government and producers have had
a regulated recycling system in place since 2005 for California,
and since 2006 for Maine and Maryland, while Minnesota and
Washington plan to follow suit in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
As for Canada, three provinces, including Alberta, have been
regulating their recycling since 2006, and LG Electronics
has a firm grasp of the obligations imposed by each province.
For more information about the recycling program in each
state and province as well as drop-off information, please
refer to the links below. For U.S., visit EIA Environmental
Homepage (http://www.eiae.org)
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| Maine,
USA (2006, unit : lb) |
| Product |
LGE's |
Orphan |
Orphan
ratio |
| Monitor |
9,598 |
3179.75 |
25% |
| TV |
426,288 |
7551.292 |
1.8% |
| TOTAL |
435,886 |
10731.04 |
2.4% |
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| Voluntary
Take-back & Recycling of Mobile Phones — US EPA Plug-in To eCycling |
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Since 2007,
LG Electronics has been an active supporter of the Plug-in
To eCycling program by US EPA. This program, which is
part of LG Electronics' strategy for the voluntary take-back
and recycling of mobile phones, is operated on the basis
of the self-collection and recycling programs. |
LG Electronics
is operating a system that facilitates easier methods
of submitting end-of-life mobile phones such as direct
collections via service centers or free collections by
mail.
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| Australia
: Mobile Phone Voluntary Take-back |
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As
a member of MobileMuster — a voluntary take-back and recycling
program for mobile phones in the Australian mobile communications
industry — LG Electronics supports the recycling of resources
and helps prevent mobile phones from being disposed of
at landfill sites. The MobileMuster Program collects and
recycles mobile phones, batteries, and |
accessories for
free, enlisting the help of 1,700 retail stores and self-governing
bodies. More than 402 tonnes had been processed through
this scheme by November 2006 and it aims to be processing
50-150 tonnes annually by 2008. Consumers interested in
submitting end-of-life mobile phones can locate their
nearest collection site by clicking on the link below.
* MobileMuster
- Address: Level 8, 71 Walker Street North Sydney NSW
2060 Australia
- Phone number: 02 8920 3555
- Website: http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/ |
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| China |
| In the vein of
the EU WEEE directive, the Chinese government is preparing
for legislation that will oblige producers to take back and
recycle end-of-life mobile phones. (Draft of Management Regulations
on Recycling and Disposal of Waste and Used Household Electrical
Appliances) Once more specific enforcement is underway, LG
Electronics will work hard to fulfill its responsibilities
as a producer and will make contributions to the preservation
of the environment in China as well as to the safety of Chinese
consumers.
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| Green Box Campaign |
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Since 2006,
LG Electronics — in conjunction with the Ministry of Information
Industry in China — has waged the Green Box Campaign to
facilitate the voluntary take-back and recycling program
for mobile phones. In 2007, LG Electronics installed these
green collection boxes in a total of 50 stores and service
centers, establishing a system that facilitates the free
collection of mobile phones. The collected mobile phones
are legally recycled by recycling firms that have a contract
with LG Electronics. |
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