waste and recycling
The
European directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) requires
selective collection of WEEE and encourages their reuse or recycling. As a distributor, we must handle the recovery
of old units for each purchase
of a new appliance of the same type.
?seems to be text missing here?, and have resulted in the collection of more than 120 ton of handsets, batteries and accessories. The majority of handsets can be refurbished and re-used or the components recovered and recycled. Less than 2% of all material in a handset has to be sent for disposal using our specialised disposal providers.
In the UK, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia, customers can return handsets in our shops and, in some instances, in the post.
Other countries not directly concerned by the WEEE Directive are contributing to supporting the WEEE recovery initiatives as well. In Switzerland, Orange is a member of the SWICO association, which disposes of faulty electronic equipment, while protecting the environment. A brochure on recycling mobiles is also given out to customers?.
mobile recycling
Today, 85% to 90% of mobile components are recyclable. Setting up a specialized collection and reclamation channel makes it possible to transform a mobile at the end of its first use lifecycle into useful handset. The majority of handsets can be refurbished and re-used or the components recovered and recycled. Less than 2% of all material in a handset has to be sent for disposal using our specialised disposal providers.
Collected mobiles can be reconditioned and resold in various countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa at highly accessible prices. In this way, they make it possible for a population that often does not have a fixed telephone line to access communication technologies. Any units that are out of order are dismantled and their components recycled.
did you know?
Every year around 105 millions phones are replaced in Europe . If reused or recycled they could help less developed countries narrow the digital divide, showing there are also social benefits to recycling (sourced from www.fonebak.com).
greater visibility over waste
Our responsibility does not stop with the collection of our waste. We carefully track the destination of our waste, ensuring that our service providers apply treatment systems in line with environmental requirements. In this way, the procurement department mapped out the treatment channels for the main types of waste collected in France (WEEE, common industrial waste, cables, batteries, wooden poles) over 2006. This information is available on the intranet, enabling each stakeholder in the environment network to ensure that products reaching the end of their useful life are passed on to authorised service providers. It is also making it possible to effectively respond to requests from auditors during the ISO 14001 certification process.
Similarly, we have contributed, with other businesses, to the creation of a manual for professional WEEE treatment services in France.
green offices
Selective sorting of paper waste is gradually being set up in our various units to help turn each of our offices green. A communication campaign, Green Gestures. In 2006, 746 tons of paper waste was recycled in France, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Egypt. Simple measures such as configuring printers to print on both sides of paper are also helping reduce the production of waste at the source.
Our responsibility does not stop with the collection of our waste. We carefully track the destination of our waste, ensuring that our service providers apply treatment systems in line with environmental requirements. In this way, the procurement department mapped out the treatment channels for the main types of waste collected in France (WEEE, common industrial waste, cables, batteries, wooden poles) over 2006. This information is available on the intranet, enabling each stakeholder in the environment network to ensure that products reaching the end of their useful life are passed on to authorised service providers. It is also making it possible to effectively respond to requests from auditors during the ISO 14001 certification process.
Similarly, we have contributed, with other businesses, to the creation of a manual for professional WEEE treatment services in France.
green offices
Selective sorting of paper waste is gradually being set up in our various units to help turn each of our offices green. A communication campaign, Green Gestures. In 2006, 746 tons of paper waste was recycled in France, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Egypt. Simple measures such as configuring printers to print on both sides of paper are also helping reduce the production of waste at the source.
copyright France Telecom 2008