Home > About Toshiba > Social and Environmental Activities > Environmental Management > Greening of Process > Recycling of End-of-Life Products: Global Recycling
In order to ensure efficient use of resources and appropriate treatment of hazardous substances, in accordance with recycling regulations in each country and territory of the world, Toshiba Group is promoting the collection and recycling of products that customers have discontinued to use. In order to minimize collection and recycling costs as it complies with each country's recycling scheme, the Group aims to increase the volume of end-of-life products recycled by 180% compared to the 2001 level by 2012. In Japan, in addition to products covered by the Law for the Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances, the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources, and other relevant laws, it has established a unique scheme to collect medical equipment, elevators, MFP/POS systems, and other products. Toshiba Group also responds appropriately to the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Europe*1 and state laws in the United States. Furthermore, it is preparing to respond appropriately to recycling-related laws enacted in China and expected to be enacted in the future by governments in Asia, Oceania, Central and South America and other regions. In FY2010, in Japan and abroad, Toshiba Group collected about 166,000 tons of end-of-life products, of which it recycled about 130,000 tons. The Group increased the weight of end-of-life products recycled by 283%, exceeding the goal*2 substantially for FY2010, because both the volume of four types of waste home appliances collected under the eco-point system in Japan and that of end-of-life products collected in Europe and North America were increased. In the future, Toshiba Group will continue to increase the volume of end-of-life products collected and recycled in Japan and establish a collection scheme in a wider range of its overseas locations.

Looking at the volume of end-of-life products recycled by region, in Japan 86% of the total volume is recycled, with four types of home appliances accounting for the bulk of this. Major items collected and recycled in Europe, which has the next highest recycling ratio after Japan, include TV sets, PCs, multifunctional peripherals (MFPs), and medical equipment. In the U.S., major items include TV sets and PCs. Increasing the volume of end-of-life products collected and recycled in China and other Asian countries is a future issue to be addressed.




The following figures show the global recycling rates regarding TVs and PCs from 2006 to 2010 based on the average life-span of the product.
- For instance,
- The TVs' recycling rate for 2010 means the ratio of the weight of TVs recycled in 2010 against the weight of TVs sold in 2000, based on its lifespan as 10 years.
- The PCs' recycling rate for 2010 means the ratio of the weight of PCs recycled in 2010 against the weight of PCs sold in 2003, based on its lifespan as 7 years.


Toshiba is now focused on making MRM successful in providing manufacturer-led management of the e-waste issue in the United States in an efficient, cost-effective, and consumer-friendly manner. In January 2008, Toshiba concluded its membership with Electronic Manufacturers Coalition for Responsible Recycling (EMCRR).
Toshiba Group thinks the concept of IPR is one of the effective approaches to encourage design for recycling. Toshiba has already started its own take back solutions; for example, Toshiba's Trade-In and Recycling Program in the United States and Toshiba's Environmental Recovery and Recycling Effort (TERRE) in Canada.
Toshiba Group believes that a successful recycling system is contingent upon society and the infrastructure that exists in that society. Importantly, Toshiba believes that to maximize recycling, associated costs placed on the general public should be minimal.
Accordingly, the development of recycling systems should take into account national synergies -- including the formation of partnerships or joint efforts -- which can increase efficiencies, drive costs out of recycling systems and lead to increased rates of recycling.
The concept of Individual Producer Responsibility should incorporate flexibility to account for varied national arrangements that, when utilized, may serve to reduce recycling costs in total, resulting in increased recycling rates.
FY2009
FY2008In order to implement a PC recycling program in all its sales territories worldwide, Toshiba Corp. has begun to provide PC recycling services there, and these services currently cover more than 80% of these territories. In FY2009, it started to offer these services in India, and in the future, it will consider launching the services in areas that are not yet covered by them.

In the United States, Toshiba America Consumer Products L.L.C. is contributing to the creation of a recycled-oriented society through the collection and recycling of TV sets by MRM*2, a recycling firm. Along with meeting state statutory regulations, the company is carrying out a collection program at 400 locations in mainland U.S. in order to increase consumer convenience in recycling. In November 2009, MRM won the TV Recycling Challenge award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its recycling system and recycling efforts. Toshiba America Consumer Products also collects TV sets through recycling events held in partnership with major retailers and audits recycling firms.

Scene from a recycling event

Winning the TV Recycling Challenge award
Since the autumn of 2008, Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. has implemented the Zero Waste to Landfill recycling program in North America in collaboration with Close the Loop Inc*. Toner cartridges, consumables, and replacement parts collected through this program are recycled into materials and such products as park benches.

Collection box
FY2009
FY2008When end-of-life electric and electronic equipment is recycled, it is put into a large plant to crush and sort it for treatment, and recycled materials such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, and plastics are collected through a combination of mechanical (magnetic, excess current, high magnetism) and manual sorting.
