By Patrick Avenell

Apple Australia has aligned with the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) for computer hardware and peripherals recycling. Under the terms of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, all suppliers of PCs (or Macs, in this case) must join an approved recycling provider.

Although membership of a recycling scheme in Australia is compulsory, Apple claims to have a root-to-branch focus on reducing the impact of its products on the environment and increasing the recyclability of its hardware.

"Apple’s approach to recycling begins in the design stage, where we create compact, efficient products that require less material to produce," said a spokesperson. "And the materials we do use — including arsenic-free glass, high-grade aluminum (sic), and strong polycarbonate — are reclaimed by recyclers for use in new products. Even our product packaging uses recyclable materials wherever possible."

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The ANZRP operates drop-off centres called TechCollect zones. Once a TV or computer is no longer needed, users can drop them off at these sites for recycling, reducing the amount of landfill and, hopefully, the number of products deposited on the roadside, according to ANZRP CEO Carmel Dollisson.

“ANZRP, on behalf of our members, is delighted to introduce this free nationwide recycling service, which will assist in significantly reducing the volume of e-waste that ends up in landfill,” she said. “We encourage householders and small businesses to dispose of their end of life televisions and computer products in an environmentally sustainable way, which TechCollect is able to guarantee.”

TV & PC Recycling Scorecard (12 October 2012)

ANZRP

Apple Australia
Panasonic Australia
Toshiba
HP
Canon
Amicroe Australia
Bluechip Infotech
Brother International
Dell Australia
Dicker Data
Direct Memory Access
EMC Global Holdings Company
Epson Australia
Medion AG
NEC Australia
Pioneer Electronics Australia
Rectron Electronics
Targus Australia
The Reject Shop
Thorn Group
Uniden Australia

DHL

Sony Australia
Samsung Electronics Australia
LG Electronics
TEAC Australia
Soniq
Kogan

E-Cycle Solutions

Retravision (strategic partnership)
Hisense Australia