Canon announces support of e-waste recycling programme

Canon New Zealand is furthering its commitment to the environment by proudly announcing its support of TechCollect, a free e-waste collection and recycling pilot programme

TechCollect operates through the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), OfficeMax and Croxley Recycling. The programme will allow Kiwis to recycle everything from printers to cameras as well as continuing to recycle their toner and ink cartridges.

Canon has an ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability through their corporate philosophy of Kyosei; living and working together for the common good, and sees this partnership as a way to minimise its environmental footprint and help customers do the same.

The New Zealand initiative comes amid recent revelations that New Zealanders are among the world’s worst e-waste offenders. According to the International Telecommunications Union, Kiwis produce an estimated 20kg per person each year.

The TechCollect pilot programme aims to divert thousands of kilograms of e-waste from landfill by providing free drop-off recycle points at OfficeMax’s 16 retail locations throughout New Zealand.

Kim Conner, CEO at Canon New Zealand says Canon works to reduce its environmental impact at all stages of the product lifecycle.

“We are constantly looking at ways to improve manufacturing, create energy efficient technologies, develop bio-based plastics and support programmes like TechCollect to ensure we are minimising waste and reusing it where possible.

Canon aims to manufacture products using bio-based plastic and 100% recycled product. Everything from the plastics, aluminium, steel and toner powder are re-used or recycled,” Conner says.

ANZRP CEO Warren Overton says It is estimated the pilot programme will recycle up to 50,000 kilograms of e-waste that would otherwise end up in landfill.

“As e-waste continues to grow, this programme which has been developed to capture end-of-life electronics and commit them to a downstream recycling, will go a long way to helping achieve a circular economy.”

Croxley Recycling – New Zealand’s only Environmental Choice licensed e-waste recycler – will collect and process the e-waste from the OfficeMax stores. Croxley will ensure regulatory requirements, including the strict adherence to the collection, storage, transport and treatment of e-waste are met.

Croxley currently process more than 200 tonnes of recyclable materials each year, including non-biodegradable plastics, and is the only recycler to offer a secure pathway to repurpose electrical waste products.

For more information on TechCollect please visit www.techcollect.nz/

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