HP ramps up recycling efforts

HP has promised to ramp up its product recycling efforts to recycle one billion pounds of electronic products and printing supplies globally by 2007.

The commitment marks an 'aggressive' ten-fold increase in the firm's green targets from the 100 million pounds of electronic products it recycled through its 'Planet Partners' return and recycling programme in 2003.

HP's goal is specific to recycling, and does not include the millions of used products that it refurbishes, reuses, donates or resells.

The company explained that it intends to reach its new global recycling target by expanding the Planet Partners initiative, which operates in 30 countries, to more customers, and by creating more convenient ways for people to return and recycle used or unwanted electronic equipment.

Recycling initiatives from HP include e-coupons, which offer online recycling customers savings on new products from HPshopping.com, and provision of postage-paid labels and envelopes that allow customers to return HP LaserJet and inkjet print cartridges for recycling.

"As we face growing concerns regarding electronic waste, HP's objective is to offer customers around the globe a convenient and environmentally sound return and recycling service for HP products," said Debra Dunn, senior vice president of corporate affairs and global citizenship at HP, in a statement.

"We will continue to develop innovative recycling solutions in an effort to meet our aggressive recycling goal for the future."

HP opened its first recycling facility in California in 1997, and claims to be the only major computer manufacturer to operate its own end-to-end recycling facility. A second HP facility has since been opened in Tennessee.

More information on HP Planet Partners is available here.