Canon New Zealand supports e-Day 2009

Canon New Zealand supports e-Day 2009

Canon New Zealand is preparing for the third annual eDay – the community initiative designed to raise awareness of the benefits of recycling computers and of the hazardous nature of sending electronic waste to landfill.

eDay, taking place on 12 September this year, provides a practical and accessible solution for consumers, households, schools, small businesses and community organisations wanting to dispose of old computers and computer related items. Locations are set up around the country where people can deliver obsolete products for recycling.

“We are supporting eDay because we want to remind people that many components of used Canon products are recyclable,” says Mr Mike Johnston Country Manager Canon New Zealand. “We are encouraging people to think in terms of sustainability by encouraging them to recycle electronics.

“Canon New Zealand is genuinely committed to ensuring our manufacturing and distribution practices are environmentally sound. By supporting eDay we can ensure the entire life-cycle of the product is managed in the most sustainable way possible.

“Sending electronic products to landfill is an irresponsible practice when such a high proportion of the material in these products is recyclable. It is also invigorating to see how many Canon Staff are volunteering nationwide to give up their own time to participate in this worthy venture” says Mr Johnston.

Since eDay was piloted in Wellington in 2006, the number of drop-off points and the amount of product collected has exponentially increased.

From one drop-off point in 2006 to 33 locations in 2008, eDay has collected a total of 1,415 tonnes of used electronics of which have been sent for recycling.

“People are invited to drop off computer monitors and hard drives, printers, cameras, cell phones and other miscellaneous hardware that is related to computers or mobile phones,” says Laurence Zwimpfer, Chairperson of Computer Access New Zealand and eDay organiser.

Equipment collected on eDay is transported to recycling plants overseas, where it is recycled according to world best practice under The Basel Convention.

Canon is partnering with other industry members to support eDay 2009, including Dell, Trade Me and the Laptop Company and recently formed industry group NZICT.

Canon New Zealand is developing rigorous sustainability practices internally and encouraging companies along its supply chain to do the same.

Over the last two years, Canon has decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 23% by encouraging staff to use video-conference facilities instead of air travel, turning off equipment when not in use and being aware of paper, electricity and water use.

Visit www.eDay.org.nz for a list of drop off sites and further eDay information.

ENDS

© Scoop Media