Sam’s Club warehouse stores are starting a new online recycling program for electronics that will pay for some of the items that customers want to discard.

Under the program announced Wednesday by Sterling, Va.-based NEW Customer Service Companies Inc., Sam’s Club will help its members dispose of older small- to medium-size electronics. The company has a link to the program on its Web site.

Items accepted under the program include desktop and laptop computers, game systems, LCD monitors, printers, camcorders, digital cameras and MP3 players.

Sam’s Club, a division of world’s largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc., won’t collect the items at its stores. But members will be able to ship items free of charge to recycling centers.

For items determined to still have value, members will get Sam’s Club gift cards. Even if the items aren’t purchased, the program will provide prepaid shipping and will recycle the items.

The program guarantees that the electronics won’t end up in landfills and won’t be exported. The items may be reconditioned and sold or disassembled so parts can be sold or turned into raw material to produce new items, NEW Customer Service said.

Members who want to recycle items can go to the program Web site, fill out a form and enter contact information. The system will generate a label for free shipping. As reported in the Arkansas Online on April 30, 2008.