HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Inc. Senior Counsel and Corporate Secretary Meggan Ehret today endorsed the advanced recovery fee model to finance recycling television e-waste at a hearing held by Pennsylvania's Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (also known as the Joint Conservation Committee). Ehret said the advanced recovery fee financing model should be supported because of its transparency; cost efficiency; power to raise consumer awareness of recycling; ability to create private sector jobs; shared responsibility between the consumer, recycler, manufacturer and retailer; and relief of financial burden on cities and counties. "The advanced recovery fee model is a more effective solution for television e-waste than any of the other e-waste laws enacted. It shares the responsibility among the stakeholders. It is market based and ensures a level playing field and provides an incentive to consumers to recycle televisions," Ehret said. This system has been working well in the most populous state in the nation since 2005. It has also been passed in four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan) and it finances legacy e-waste under the European WEEE directive. The Electronic Manufacturers Coalition for Responsible Recycling or "the Coalition" has also endorsed the advanced recovery fee-financing model. The Coalition consists of major manufacturers and marketers of consumer and commercial electronic products. The advanced recovery fee financing model collects $6-$10 (based on the size of the television) at the point of sale from consumers to fund the collection and recycling of televisions discarded from in-state sources. "It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the actual costs associated with recycling a television that will be assessed 15 to 17 years after the television is manufactured and sold. This provides little or no incentive to design more environmentally friendly televisions. However, if the environmental friendliness of a product is a factor in the consumer's buying decision, then the manufacturer is motivated to design and sell an environmentally friendly television," Ehret added. The Joint Conservation Committee is currently examining solutions for e- waste recycling in Pennsylvania. Once complete, the Joint Conservation Committee will send their recommendations to the General Assembly. About Thomson - World Leader In Digital Video Technologies Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems and equipment to help its Media & Entertainment clients -- content creators, content distributors, and users of its technology -- realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly-changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the media and entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. For more information: http://www.thomson.net/ . DATASOURCE: Thomson Inc. CONTACT: Rick Kelly of Triad Strategies, office, +1-717-635-7366, or cell, +1-717-439-6858, for Thomson Inc. Web site: http://www.thomson.net/

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