Sony Sweetens TV Recycling by $100

It's a coy marketing move: launch a nationwide electronics recycling program, then offer $100 towards a Sony Bravia TV to folks recycling old TV sets.

Back in August, Sony announced an ambitious, nationwide electronics recycling program with Waste Management, enabling users of Sony products to take (or shop) their unwanted electronics devices for free recycling and safe disposal. The program won Sony points for being environmentally friendly (hopefully cuting back on toxic e-waste, often shipped overseas) and trying to make it easy for customers to do the right thing. The program kicked off on September 15, and is now up and operating 1t 79 locations around the United States, with Sony hoping to get centers operating in all 50 states.

Unsurprisingly, Sony has also been tying its recycling program to promotions for shiny new Sony products. First, Sony offered to let notebook computer users trade in their old notebooks for up to $250 towards the purchase of a new Vaio notebook; now, Sony is offering up to $100 towards the purchase of a new Bravia television to folks who bring an older TV set in for recycling.

The deal lets consumers pick up a $100 coupon towards the purchase of a new Bravia high-definition TV for every old set recycled through Sony’s recycling program. The program will run through March 15, 2008, at 79 Waste Management locations, although the coupons will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis; purchases of a new TV must be made by March 31, 2008, and can be done at Sony Style stores, online, or via telephone sales. Curiously, there’s no mention of a limit on how many coupons can be applied towards a new purchase—although we imagine there will be restrictions, so folks with a shed full of old Sony TVs probably don’t have a payday waiting for them.

“By layering our Take Back Recycling Program with offers like the TV Trade Up promotion, Sony expects to reach its goal of recycling one pound of old product for every pound of new product sold,” said Mark Small, Sony Electronics’ VP of environment, safety, and health, in a statement. “With the next wave of high definition technology, we anticipate many HDTVs to replace analog television sets and Sony is providing customers with end-of-life solutions for those unwanted items.”