Word of the Week #extended producer responsibility

 extended producer responsibility - producers are given a significant responsibility for the treatment and disposal of post consumer products

This is a common method of zero waste production and life cycle planning. Instead of making consumers responsible for (properly) disposing of products after they've been used, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the producers. They will be much more likely to make products that don't have to be replaced as often (so they don't have to pay for reusing or recycling that material) or they will make products that can be easily recycled. 

IKEA has a cool model they use when it comes to their furniture. Once you've returned your items they will try to find a suitable home for it through a charity organization or disassemble and recycle it in the most sustainable way possible.