Toshiba Environment
Download Toshiba Reports
Download Toshiba Group Reports
 
eco style   Recent Activities
Print This Page
Toshiba Ups Ink and Toner Recycling By 410%

Toshiba Recycling BoxToshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) has achieved 410 percent year-on-year growth in its recycling of ink cartridges and other printing products, and is expanding the program further. TABS, a Toshiba Corporation subsidiary that provides managed print and professional services, partners with recycler Close the Loop Inc to collect ink cartridges, toner bottles, drum units and similar used items. Close the Loop then uses the products to create eLumber™, a composite used in park benches, fences and garden boxes for communities and non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity.

eLumber: Made from Recycled Copier Toner Cartidges The program has recycled nearly 90,000 pounds of waste since it began in late 2008. Toshiba will now take these products regardless of manufacturer. "To our knowledge, we are currently the only manufacturer accepting used imaging consumables from other companies, and we do it at no cost to our customers," said Tom Walter, director, Aftermarket Sales, Marketing and Operations for TABS. "With e-waste growing at record rates, Toshiba wants to make it simple for businesses to recycle imaging consumables, not because we have to, but because it's the right thing to do.

Toshiba Joins Billion Pound Challenge

On April 13, 2011, Toshiba America Information Systems (TAIS), along with other consumer electronics industry leaders, joined the "Billion Pound Challenge", a program coordinated by the Consumer Electronics Association to recycle one billion pounds of electronics annually by 2016. This commitment represents more than a threefold increase over the 300 million pounds collected by the industry in 2010. The intention of the "Billion Pound Challenge", officially known as the eCycling Leadership Initiative, is to show that industry and retailers can be proactive and aggressive with recycling, thereby reducing the need for state recycling laws. Participating in the program are consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers, collectors, recyclers, non-governmental organizations and government at all levels.

The Initiative seeks to improve consumer awareness of the more than 5,000 collection sites currently sponsored by industry; increase the amount of electronics recycled responsibly; increase the number of collection opportunities available; and provide transparent metrics on eCycling efforts. One billion pounds of electronics, if not properly recycled, would fill about 88.9 million cubic feet, equivalent to an entire 71,000-seat NFL stadium.

The consumer electronic industry's best practices will be followed including prohibiting recyclers and downstream processors who dump end-of-life electronics in developing nations. The Initiative's participants support the voluntary implementation of third party recycler certification systems so that the billion pounds is recycled in third-party certified facilities.

A major component of the program will be consumer education, including new online tools and mobile apps, to help make recycling used electronics as easy as buying new ones. The eCycling Leadership Initiative will bolster the number of collection sites by working with state and local governments and charities to establish additional sites.