Epson's Plant in Japan's Recycles Millions of ink cartridges

Toner News Mobile Forums Toner News Main Forums Epson's Plant in Japan's Recycles Millions of ink cartridges

Date: Monday January 23, 2012 09:30:05 am
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • Author
    Posts

  • Anonymous
    Inactive

    Epson’s Plant in Japan’s Recycles Millions of ink cartridges

    Millions of ink cartridges are tossed away each year. To combat the growing waste, six printer manufacturers have become proactive through a recycling project which is being introduced outside Japan, including Thailand.

    At Epson Mizube’s plant near Lake Suwa in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, the cartridges are stripped off. Some components are used to produce pens, plastic boxes and flower pots, which are distributed to needy organisations free of charge.

    Joining the Ink Cartridge Satogaeri (Homecoming) project, which was launched in April 2008, were Epson, Canon, Brother, Dell, HP and Lexmark. All these companies pay to have the used cartridges recycled. To date, 5 million cartridges have been recycled.

    "The operating cost may be high but our achievement should not be calculated by financial gains," said Motonori Okumura, the chief operating officer of the corporation’s imaging and information products operations division.

    The project kicked off through a belief that companies marketing inkjet printers have a social responsibility to recycle used ink cartridges and should work towards the creation of a recycling-based society through conservation efforts.

    Under the project, there are now 5,000 cartridge collection boxes located at post offices and local government offices across Japan. The project partners are hopeful that such recycling bins would raise awareness of recycling and inspire similar schemes in other parts of the world.

    To create a bigger impact on environmental protection, Ink Cartridge Satogaeri partners have donated three yen (Bt1.23) to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) for every ink cartridge submitted to the project starting from mid2010. To date, the donation has already reached 9.51 million yen.

    In the wake of the success of Ink Cartridge Satogaeri, the project was kicked off outside Japan on December 1 this year.

    Launched in Singapore, Project Homecoming is the first0ever joint printer brand ink and tone cartridge recycling initiative in Southeast Asia. Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, and Lexmark are leading the project. Cartridge recycling bins have been placed at Singapore public library branches. The launch of a cartridge recycling scheme in Thailand is scheduled for this year.

    The plant takes pride in the fact that its operations have supported environmental causes. On the side, it is the place where Epson shows the world that innovations are ready to assist disabled workers.

    Wheelchair-bound employees can conveniently glide through the plant’s flat barrier-free entryway and get onto their desk on which they remove the recyclable parts of expended ink and toner cartridges.

    Workbenches are specially prepared to make sure their height and layouts are easily accessible from a wheelchair. Manual work in seated positions is available for employees with lower0body disabilities and kidney dysfunction. Special early dismissal system is also in place to accommodate the needs of employees needing dialysis. Proper break times are also provided for employees with special needs.

    Of 136 employees working for the Epson Mizube, 61 per cent are challenged employees. Of the differently-abled employees, 23 have limited limb movement, 49 are intellectually impaired, and 10 others have hearing impairment. The rest have renal problems.

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.