HP’s Take-Back and recycling events are proving more successful than ever. Last month, HP in Italy and the UK held Take-Back events which, combined, received more than 14 tonnes of unwanted or unusable electronic waste.
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Wide range
In Italy, where the EU’s Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive is due to come into force in July, more than 180 people in Rome took back a wide range of unwanted equipment. This included PCs, telephones, lights, monitors, televisions, air conditioners and washing machines.
HP worked in conjunction with the city’s leading environmental services company AMA to manage the pilot operation, whilst representatives from the University of Milan were on hand to collect data on the population’s recycling habits. HP will be using the data to gauge what kind of recycling services are preferred by customers in the future.
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Advanced operation
In the UK, HP advanced the Take Back operation one step further. Working with computer refurbishment company Maxitech, not only were several tonnes of electrical equipment handed in, but much of it was then refurbished and donated to a local children’s charity. The remainder, if still not yet beyond repair, will soon be resold at low cost to UK-based organisations unable to afford brand new computers.
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Advantages for many
So what are the advantages of HP’s Take-Back and recycling programmes?
First and foremost, they directly meet the European Union’s Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment ( WEEE ) Directive which is designed to stop the growing volume of electrical and electronic waste disposed of in landfill sites, by making manufacturers responsible for financing the recycling of end-of-life equipment. Our Take-Back programmes demonstrate our continued commitment to reducing electronic waste and encouraging others do the same.
There is a triple win:
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- For the environment - because old electrical equipment is not thrown away
- For the refurbishment organisation - which collects equipment for refurbishment
- For the charity - which receives IT equipment that is normally too expensive struggle to buy
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| People returning their old equipment also feel good about making the effort. |
Maximising opportunities
By partnering with local environmental agencies such as AMA and Maxitech, HP can ensure that the process of electronic waste collection, disposal and recycling is maximised. The equipment, regardless of its condition, may well be reused by other individuals or organisations and HP is always keen to explore as many alternative avenues as possible.
Providing refurbished IT equipment for local individuals or organisations goes a long way to reducing the digital gap in communities. In some instances, equipment is donated to local charities, improving the lives of many by making IT more accessible. In other cases refurbished equipment is sold at a lower price to people who are not necessarily able to afford brand new computer equipment.
“Refurbishing computer equipment and making IT accessible to the wider community is one of the most effective ways of reducing the impact of IT waste on the environment,” says Kirstie McIntyre, Take Back Compliance manager, HP EMEA.
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Educating ourselves
At HP, our Take-Back operations are not just designed for the public at large. We take a strong stance in encouraging our employees to practice what we preach. Our annual ‘Environment Days’, which are specifically designed to make HP employees increasingly aware of our continued commitment to the environment, are perhaps our best example. Last year, many HP countries organised internal Take-Back events with a significant amount of electronic waste handed in as a result.
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Global Citizenship Reports 2006 (*) |
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