Future Shop launches permanent in-store Take Back program to help keep
electronics out of landfills

- New Future Shop electronics take back program rolls out in Alberta on April 9 -

BURNABY, BC, April 8 /CNW/ - Hundreds of electronic items previously abandoned and sent to landfills or stored in closets will now be accepted back at Future Shop. Today, Future Shop, Canada's leading retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics, announced the official expansion and launch of its Electronics Take Back program throughout Alberta, making it easy for consumers to responsibly dispose of end of life electronics. Customers can bring in up to two products per day to any Future Shop location whether the item was originally purchased from the chain or elsewhere.

The program, which kicks off on April 9, started as a test pilot in Calgary and Ottawa in late 2009, will begin its permanent offering in Alberta, with plans to roll the Electronics Take Back program into other provinces in the upcoming months.

"Everyday our customers are coming into our stores looking for new electronic products but they're also looking for solutions to dispose of the technology they're replacing," said Todd Empey, Vice President of Operations, Future Shop. "Future Shop is committed to doing its part to help reduce our environmental impact."

Future Shop successfully launched a test pilot program in the city of Calgary with recycling partner eCycle Solutions. The program has now expanded with eCycle Solutions to include all Future Shop stores (with the exception of Grande Prairie). In the City of Edmonton, Future Shop has partnered with GEEP Alberta Inc. Future Shop responsibly recycles an average of 3,307 lbs of electronics from each store every month.

"It has been a great opportunity to partner with Future Shop on such a rewarding and necessary program for our communities," said Brendan Lefebvre, Manager of Logistics and Business Development, GEEP Alberta Inc. "Future Shop's footprint of stores offers more convenient locations for consumers to access the service and return product in a location where they're making their next purchasing decision."

To participate in Electronics Take Back, customers can bring common electronics items such as TVs, personal computers and peripherals (mice, keyboards, speakers and cables), desktop printers and monitors into their local Future Shop during store hours and deposit them at Customer Service. Customers do not need to purchase items to receive the service or show original receipt of purchase. View www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration for the full list of items accepted and excluded including major appliances.

Seven items recycled at all Future Shop locations nationally

Since 2008, Future Shop has kept more than 200,000 lbs out of landfills from accepting the following items at all our stores through Greentec:

    
    -   Used batteries (rechargeable and alkaline)
    -   Cell phones
    -   CD players
    -   Media files (CDs and DVDs)
    -   Portable DVD players
    -   Ink cartridges
    

Earth Day nationwide trade-in promotional offers

From April 9 - 22nd in all stores across Canada, selected items are eligible for trade-in and will be rewarded with discounts off the purchase of new digital cameras, computers, telephones and GPS units. For promotional offers visit www.futureshop.ca or look in Future Shop's weekly flyer.

For more information about in-store recycling at Future Shop and to find out about other e-recycling options in each province, go to www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration.

About Future Shop

With 144 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts, has enabled its website, Futureshop.ca, to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells. Futureshop.ca also hosts an online community forum and tech blog for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshopforums.ca). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profits organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration).

For further information: Future Shop media contacts: Elliott Chun, Future Shop, [email protected], [phone]; Stefanie Niewada, Optimum PR, [email protected], [phone]; Tamar Nersesian, Optimum PR, [email protected], [phone]