By Claire Reilly

Sharp has today announced a product stewardship program for the recycling of cartridges from Sharp copiers, printers and multifunction devices. The Sharp Cartridge Collection Program, which was developed in association with the materials recovery company Close The Loop, is aimed at reducing the amount of e-waste going into landfill.

“This initiative between Sharp and Close the Loop reflects Sharp’s voluntary involvement with Product Stewardship,” said a Sharp spokesperson. “Product Stewardship is a strategy to address the environmental aspects of a product from its inception, design, use, collection and recycling with the aim of zero additional landfill.

“Another part of Sharp’s Product Stewardship is Extended Producer Responsibility where Sharp takes responsibility for the cost of recycling the product at end-of-life,” the spokesperson added.

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As a part of the program, customers who are identified as users of multiple Sharp devices will be given dedicated collection bins to dispose of cartridges. These cartridges will then be removed and recycled at Sharp’s expense, with waste toner, plastics, steel and aluminium all being reused for manufacturing.

“Sharp’s new recycling program reduces cartridges going to landfill from 100 per cent to 0 per cent of collected cartridges,” said the Sharp spokesperson.

Consumers and businesses interested in taking advantage of the program are advised to contact their Sharp dealer or account manager for more information.