Printer recyclers to be audited for eWaste

Dumping old printers in landfills will no longer be an option if a national recycling scheme for eWaste has any teeth, as the Product Stewardship Bill passes Parliament to cover digital printers and multifunction devices, but not offset.

Janet Leslie, quality, safety and environment manager for Canon Oceania says the 2011 Bill paves the way for a national recycling scheme, “to be established by the TV and computer industries later this year, that will meet the growing need in the community for a safe and environmentally sound solution to eWaste.”

For Canon the Bill covers all of its digital printing equipment including all of the larger printing presses and multi-function devices. Printers with digital presses will also be covered under the scheme.

“Most of our devices have recycled plastics in them as well as bio plastics, which are made from renewable resources, so this product stewardship legislation contributes to a whole move to resource conservation and a smarter use of our non-renewable resources," said Leslie (pictured).

Consumers and manufacturers and importers, rather than the print industry will largely feel the impact of this scheme, which will audit recyclers to make sure that they will be recycling in accordance with the industry standard.

Canon will continue to take back its multifunction device office printers back to be recycled or refurbished like it has in the past, but the amount it can refurbish is driven by demand.

According to Leslie, the biggest change will be in the consumer area because the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and Product Stewardship Association (PSA) will be setting up collection areas all over Australia for people to take their old TVs, computers and printers for recycling.

Canon will be picking up the tab for its products involved within this scheme, as it has committed itself both locally and globally to the environment by reducing the impact of its own activities and helping customers reduce theirs.