The percentage of electronics at the end of their lives which were recycled.
The EPA found that the percentage remained consistent from 1999-2005. Even as recycling rates went up, the amount of electronics reaching end of life outpaced the increase, leaving the figure static. (source: EPA, July 2008)
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Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
Rep. Joe Barton from Texas put it best: "There are going to be some senior citizens and some disabled Americans that perhaps don't realize it," he said, "but you are to have that no matter what.... If you are 99% ready to go you don't delay because of the 1% who either is not focused on it or are perhaps so incapacitated that regardless of when you do it they won't be able to comply."
It is far larger than 1%. I would imagine close to 20% or more.
The problem is, no one knows about this. Our local news stations went around doing surveys and most people have no idea what they were talking about. Shelters for women with kids have no way of even affording $40 for a box at this point in our economy. I had to give my two coupons to my aunt and uncle two weeks ago when they first heard about this.
They will not go forward with this, it will effect far more people than they realize. The day may come where they switch over, but the backlash is going to be so great, that they will be forced to turn it all back.
They will find out real fast that people are simply too broke to make this conversion go through.
Guess what, there are bigger priorities than TV in this world. People, can, in fact, live without television. I know it may be scary. And to build on your example, if said shelter finds it necessary to have a TV, surely they can afford a whole $50 to get a converter. If not, then I'm sure there are plenty of other sources of entertainment that would be much more useful and educational.