Recycling of electronics waste, so called "e-waste", is one of the hottest environmental topics of late.  With an unprecedented amount of consumer electronics being purchased, an equally unprecedented amount is heading to landfills, creating a mess.  Older electronics is particularly loathsome as much of it contains lead, halogens, and other dangerous chemicals.

Waste Management, an interstate waste/trash company, last year announced partnerships with Zenith, LG, and Sony to allow customers to drop off electronics from these brands, for free, at over 200 eCycling drop-off centers across the country.  Now the company has found another partner -- iGo, maker of power adapters and connectors -- and has announced plans to expand its recycling efforts.

Patrick DeRueda, president of WM Recycle America states, "We are always looking for new partners and new ways to increase the recycling of e-waste, one of the fastest growing consumer waste streams. Our partnership with iGo will help capture and recycle more electronic equipment and instead of disposing these materials, repurpose them into new consumer goods."

Waste Management is promising to increase its total amount of recycled materials from 8 million tons this year to 20 million tons by 2020.  This nearly threefold increase will take place thanks in part to the new deal and its increased e-waste efforts.  The company currently recycles large volumes of paper, plastic and metals, much of it gathered from curbside neighborhood programs.  The company is also actively expanding its processing of other e-waste materials such as compact fluorescent bulbs, batteries and other household electronics.

Waste Management's PR representative Johnathan Wenda cheered the new efforts stating, "Through its partnerships with Sony, LG and now iGo electronics, Waste Management is providing an environmental solution to the disposal of electronics waste, an environmentally hazardous and rapidly growing waste stream."