Consumables collection and recycling scheme
02/12/2009
OKI Printing Solutions introduced its Consumables Returns Programme in July 2004. The key objectives were to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and create new opportunities for recycling. The results have surpassed expectations!
Under the WEEE Directive, OKI Printing Solutions is required to take back all eletronic equipment it produces at end-of-life from customers. However, as our consumables are non-electrical items, this legislation does not apply. Even so, our consumables returns programme was launched as part of our corporate responsibility which embraces environmental impact.
Each of our operating Companies across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) manages the return of used consumable items - primarily empty toner cartidges, image drums and fuser units - on a local level using their local office as the returns point.
From here, the used consumables are passed on to nominated recycling plants where they are cleaned and the materials segregated for recycling.
In 2008, OKI Printing Solutions was recycling 90% of the materials returned through its collection programme. By 2009, that figure had increased to 97%. Our target is 100% which will equate to zero landfill from our returned consumables.
