Across the country, landfills and back lots are filled with the detritus of America's disposable lifestyle. And these days, consumers — particularly the new generation of young consumers — are quickly realizing that this pattern, while undeniably convenient, is both irresponsible and unsustainable.

As a result, the idea that the true "cost" of a product includes the price of disposal is taking hold. Retailers have the opportunity to take a leadership role in local recycling efforts by embracing and promoting recycling programs for the products they sell.

Certainly any retailer who sells readily recyclable products — newspapers, magazines, paper supplies, soda, bottled water, bottled drinks, small electronics or cell phones — has a responsibility to provide a convenient method for customers to recycle those products at the point of purchase. Manufacturers of computers, printers, fax machines and scanners are quickly responding to consumer demand by developing their own take-back programs, and retailers should promote these programs to customers.

Similarly, local purveyors of materials which should never enter the waste stream — batteries, motor oil, paint, prescription drugs, lawn chemicals, pesticides, pest control products and solvents — share the responsibility for their proper disposal.

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The "Take it Back Network" is the product of a partnership between the King County (WA) Solid Waste Division and Seattle Public Utilities in which retailers, repair shops, charitable organizations and recyclers provide consumers with options for recycling certain products – and their hazardous components – in a safe and cost effective manner. Take it Back Network locations accept electronic products such as computers, TVs, cell phones and certain household electronics. Fluorescent light bulbs including compact fluorescent bulbs and straight tubes can also be recycled at certain Take it Back Network locations.