4.02.2007 - 10:54am ET

(CSRwire) MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2007--Best Buy Co., Inc. has unveiled a consumer electronics recycling grant program to help increase the recycling opportunities available in communities across the country. The program is part of Best Buy's commitment to help consumers nationwide make safe, responsible decisions when disposing of old and unwanted consumer electronics.

The program will provide two streams of grants - the first stream will provide support for events hosted by 501©3 nonprofit organizations. The second stream will support events hosted by other organizations in cities and townships across the country (e.g., cities, counties, public-private partnerships). Grants will range from $500 to $1,500, depending on the size and scope of each organization's event program and the recycling need in the area.

All qualified organizations are invited to apply. Grant applications are available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=725063232472, or via www.bestbuy.com/recycling or www.e4partners.com. Priority will be given to those applications completed by Earth Day, April 22, 2007.

"As the largest retailer of consumer electronics, we have a responsibility to help consumers make smart decisions when disposing of e-waste," said Brenda Mathison, director, environmental affairs, Best Buy. "The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that consumers will retire two million tons of e-waste this year - from cell phones and rechargeable batteries to televisions, computers and appliances. We see this grant program as a way to extend our reach in communities, supporting local programs that touch all consumers and help ensure these items are properly handled."

The recycling grant program joins a number of Best Buy programs that have helped more consumers recycle e-waste than any other retailer in the U.S.:

Free recycling drop-off kiosks - these kiosks, just inside the door of every U.S. Best Buy store, collected more than 90,000 pounds in 2006 of old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and ink-jet cartridges. Consumers can drop off the items at these kiosks for free.

Recycling events - Best Buy will again host and/or sponsor weekend recycling events in its store parking lots across the U.S. Since 2001, these events have collected more than 5 million pounds of e-waste. In 2006, Best Buy sponsored or hosted 40 recycling events, collecting more than 1.8 million pounds of e-waste from consumers. This year Best Buy will hold events in Florida, Minnesota. Washington State, California, Massachusetts and several other states.

Services and haul-away programs - Through its services and
customer haul away programs in 2006, Best Buy recycled more than 13 million pounds of e-waste. For a nominal fee, Best Buy will haul away and recycle consumer's televisions, monitors, and appliances when new purchases are delivered to their homes.

Mail-in cell phone recycling - New cell phone customers receive free, postage-paid envelopes to mail old phones to ReCellular, a cell phone reuse/recycling partner of Best Buy.

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