Telkonet Announces an Industry Leading Initiative to Reduce Electronic Waste
In Honor of Earth Week Telkonet Takes Another Step in Its Commitment to Sustainability
MILWAUKEE, WI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/25/11 -- Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI), developer of the state-of-the-art EcoSmart energy management platform and the leading provider of Internet services for the hospitality industry, announced today that it has established an e-waste Take-Back Recycling program for all of its legacy products to assist its customers with the responsible disposal of used electronics equipment.
Telkonet is committed to promoting sustainability and actively pursues and implements policies, programs and practices designed to minimize and mitigate corporate environmental impact by producing products that are designed and manufactured to meet or exceed the world's most stringent environmental requirements. Telkonet extends that core value, and attempts to deal with the increasing amounts of electronic waste, also known as e-waste, through its customers as well.
The EPA estimated that in 2007, the US generated over 3 million tons of e-waste. But only 13.6% of that was collected for recycling. The other 86.4% went to landfills and incinerators, despite the fact that many of these products include hazardous chemicals and heavy metals, like lead, mercury and cadmium, which can leach out of landfills into groundwater and streams. Also, burning the plastics in electronics can emit dioxin.
Jason Tienor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Telkonet, said that the Take-Back Recycling program was designed to make it easier for Telkonet customers to recycle, while supporting Telkonet's goal of reducing the environmental impact of its own products. He went on to say: "Recycling conserves resources, reduces environmental impact and makes good business sense. To promote participation, we've designed our Take-Back recycling program to be very simple -- if we made it or sold it, we'll accept it back and dispose of it properly. In honor of Earth Week, to kick-off the program, during the months of May and June 2011, all products returned to Telkonet will be recycled for free and receive a credit towards upgrading to new EcoSmart equipment." Telkonet will accept for recycling any previously sold equipment (branded as Telkonet, EthoStream, or SmartSystems International), which includes energy management and networking equipment such as thermostats, controllers, sensors, switches, access points, network infrastructure equipment and accessories.
The new Telkonet Take-Back recycling program is available for all Telkonet customers in the United States who wish to dispose of their end-of-life network communications and energy management equipment in an environmentally responsible manner while reducing the use of diminishing landfill space. "The new program will make it even easier for customers to recycle their electronic equipment and provide new ways to save money and be eco-conscious," Tienor said.
To participate in the Telkonet Take-Back recycling program, please review the detailed requirements on Telkonet's website (http://www.telkonet.com/ecowaste.php), properly package the products, apply the correct postage and send them to the address below:
Telkonet, Inc.
Attn: Disposals
10200 W. Innovation Drive
Suite 300
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Email: Disposals@telkonet.com
About Telkonet
Telkonet is leading energy management technology provider offering hardware, software and services to Commercial customers throughout the world. The EcoCentral Platform, in conjunction with the EcoSmart Suite of products, provides comprehensive savings, management and reporting of a building's energy consumption. Telkonet's energy management products are installed in properties within the Hospitality, Military, Educational, Healthcare and Residential markets reducing energy consumption, Carbon footprints and eliminating the need for new energy generation. www.telkonet.com.
Statements included in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as competitive factors, technological development, market demand and the Company's ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenue due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results, can be found in the Company's Registration Statement and in its Reports on Forms 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Telkonet Investor Relations 414.721.7988 ir@telkonet.com
Source: Telkonet, Inc.
Released April 25, 2011