Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba have joined forces to create a new electronics-recycling company, Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, known as MRM. The company will coordinate collection and recycling programs across the U.S. Interestingly, Minnesota has taken the environmental lead, enacting strict new laws for the recycling of used electronic products. MRM will help provide cost-effective services to manufacturers who must comply with Minnesota’s new laws. In the first five months since Minnesota’s laws took effect, MRM collected 750 tons of old products.

Other states with legislation scheduled to kick in include Connecticut, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Ultimately, MRM looks to create a national plan. By working together, the companies hope that economy of scale will kick in to bring efficiency to recycling solutions; MRM already has established agreements with such companies as Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi, Philips, Pioneer, and Sanyo.

Is this a shameless corporate attempt to appear green, by the companies who manufacture and profit from the stuff in the first place, or a genuine recognition that we’re all stuck on this one planet and the sooner we all start to work together, the better? Comment away.