Faith Leaders in All 50 States Call on Walmart to Recycle E-Waste
As Walmart held its annual shareholders’ meeting in June, TCE and local clergy published an Open Letter signed by more than 100 faith leaders from all 50 states calling on the retail giant to match their competitors’ programs in electronic waste recycling. Endorsed by priests, pastors, rabbis, lay leaders, faith based activists and theologians, the “Open Letter to Walmart on Stewardship of Electronic Waste” is the latest in a year-long campaign to convince the company to offer recycling.
Click here to see the letter!
Click here to read the press release.
Moving a Giant…
Walmart released their 2011 Global Responsibility Report but they still have not made a commitment to provide consumers with convenient, responsible recycling for electronic waste in their stores. Best Buy has been providing electronics recycling in all their stores since 2009.
Tell Walmart to stop lagging on electronics recycling and starting leading (If you are on a smartphone, go to Walmart’s main Facebook page and click on “What’s on Your Mind.”)
Here’s a sample message:
“I am contacting Walmart to request electronic waste recycling options nationwide, something that Best Buy already does. Over 25,000 people have already sent letters and emails to your company asking for this program, yet all you have responded with is a limited trade-in program. When will you do something to offer all your customers free and convenient recycling for their old electronics?”
Thanks for making your voice heard today!
Walmart’s Sustainability Director Comes to Dallas
Andrea Thomas Green, Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability, was featured as a speaker at Dallas’ Earth Day celebration on April 22nd–and TCE organizers were ready to take action. We had a booth at the event all weekend, and we asked all of our visitors to sign a postcard to Andrea asking Walmart to start recycling electronics. We gathered over 400 postcards in a few short hours! Then we attended her presentation and filled the entire front row of seating, clad in our “Walmart should recycle, Best Buy already does” t-shirts. Andrea acknowledged our group during her speech and said that Walmart is indeed working on this issue. We delivered the postcards at the end, of course!
Take Action
You can help press Walmart to start e-Cycling by contacting them via social media: Post a message today on Walmart’s “What’s on Your Mind” Facebook page calling on the company to take back e-waste for recycling. You can post the following message, or paraphrase it in your own words:
"Walmart should offer electronic waste recycling options nationwide, something that Best Buy already does. Over 100 religious leaders in all 50 states have called on your company to demonstrate good stewardship. When will you do something to offer all your customers free and convenient recycling for their old electronics?"
Contribute to Help Get the Work Done
Texas Campaign for the Environment is the lead organization working to convince Walmart to take back and recycle old electronics. Your support is what makes our campaigns successful! You can help us accomplish this important goal today — over 90% of our funding comes from small, individual contributions from folks just like you. Can you pitch in today?
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