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To help build a more recycling-oriented society, Sharp is taking the lead in the recovery and recycling of used electrical products. Sharp complies with the recycling laws of each country, as exemplified by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive in the EU, which is based on the concept of producer responsibility. Through collaboration with industry associations, Sharp is actively participating in the planning and construction of recycling systems now being considered for adoption in China and other parts of Asia.
Efforts in North America
Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC), a Sharp sales subsidiary in the US, complies with US laws enacted at the state level regarding the collection and recycling of used electrical products.
Table 1 - Annual collection and recycling amount in the United States(Tons)
| State |
2006 |
2007 |
| Maine |
22.8 |
57.6 |
| Minnesota |
- |
118.5 |
In addition, on September 28, 2007, SEC established the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) in cooperation with Panasonic Corporation of North America and Toshiba America Consumer Products to achieve more efficient recycling. The new company's initial activities have been focused on operating a program in the State of Minnesota for the recycling of used electrical products.
SEC has concluded to discontinue the activity with the Electronics Manufacturers Coalition for Responsible Recycling (EMCRR)* in August 2008. SEC is studying ways to offer efficient recovery and recycling services in all areas of the US.
*EMCRR is the coalition that promoted the collection and recycling of used products based on advanced recycling fee.
SEC has also been active in the Plug-In To eCycling program, a partnership established in 2002 between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and manufacturers, retailers, and service providers, to promote consumer electronics recycling in various regions of the US. SEC has been honored by the EPA for six consecutive years of participation. In 2007, SEC supported 100 recycling events and was able to recover and recycle 49.9 tons of used electrical products. For more information on this voluntary activity.
Further, as another voluntary activity, SEC is also urging customers to recycle 100% of Sharp recyclable parts through its Copier Toner Recycling Program launched in February 2008. The program allows business and government customers to recycle toner cartridges and bottles from all Sharp multifunctional products (MFPs), including already discontinued models. This is in contrast to most copier manufacturers, which collect only cartridges or specified models. And this recycling program is free of charge for customers. Sharp is the only manufacturer in the US that covers all recycling costs for the toner cartridges and bottles of its entire MFP lineup. For more information.
Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd. (SECL), a Sharp sales subsidiary in Canada, is a founding member of Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPS Canada). EPS Canada is a not-for-profit organization founded by leading Canadian electronic and information technology companies whose mandate is assisting provincial governments by designing and implementing sustainable solutions for Canada's electronic waste issues.
In addition to complying with all laws enacted on the provincial level regarding the collection and recycling of used electrical products, as a voluntary effort, SECL has taken the initiative to promote a recycling program for used toner cartridges. Under this program, consumers simply follow a link on SECL's Web site to find and then print out a prepaid shipping label for use in returning empty toner cartridges. For more information.
Contact Information for Product Recycling in North America
Efforts in Europe
In EU member states, the producers of electrical and electronics equipment are required, under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive enacted in 2003, to collect and recycle used electrical products. By participating in recycling schemes in all EU countries, Sharp stays in compliance with all applicable EU laws, as well as corresponding laws in non-EU countries Switzerland and Norway.
By 2007, some 5,500 tons of used electrical products had been collected under the Sharp's responsibility. Of that amount, Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH (SEEG), a Sharp sales subsidiary in Germany, managed the recycling of 3,700 tons of appliances and consumer electronics in Germany through ProReturn, a recycling system jointly established with Loewe AG and Philips Consumer Electronics.
As a voluntary activities in EU, Sharp Manufacturing France S.A(SMF)., a Sharp production subsidiary in France, has a recycling program for used toner cartridges. See this for details.
Contact Information for Product Recycling in Europe
| Country |
Company Name |
Recycling Scheme |
| Austria |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, Austria Branch |
ERA |
| Belgium |
Sharp Electronics Benelux B.V., Belgium Branch |
Recupel |
| Bulgaria |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Cyprus |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Czech Republic |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, Czech Republic Branch |
Asekol, Elektrowin |
| Denmark |
Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB, Denmark Representative Office |
Elretur |
| Estonia |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Finland |
Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB, Finland Representative Office |
SERTY (Consumer electronics), Elker (Information systems) |
| France |
Sharp Electronics France S.A. |
EcoLogic |
| Germany |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
ProReturn |
| Greece |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Hungary |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, Hungary Branch |
Electro-Coord |
| Ireland |
Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd. |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Italy |
Sharp Electronics (Italia) S.p.A. |
ReMwdi@ |
| Latvia |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Lithuania |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a
Division of Sharp Electronics
(Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Luxembourg |
Sharp Electronics Benelux B.V., Belgium Branch |
Ecotrel |
| Malta |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Netherlands |
Sharp Electronics Benelux B.V. |
NVMP (Consumer electronics), ICT Milieu (Information systems) |
| Norway |
Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB, Norway Representative Office |
Elretur |
| Poland |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, Poland Branch |
ElektroEko |
| Portugal |
Sharp Electronica España S.A |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Romania |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Slovakia |
Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH , Slovakia Branch |
Sewa |
| Slovenia |
Sharp Central & Eastern Europe, a Division of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH |
(Sharp's distributor participating in Recycling Scheme) |
| Spain |
Sharp Electronica España S.A. |
Ecotic, Ecofimatica |
| Sweden |
Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB |
El-kretsen |
| Switzerland |
Sharp Electronics (Schweiz) AG |
SENS, SWICO |
| UK |
Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd. |
REPIC |
Efforts in Japan
Please click on the links below to view information on Sharp’s recycling efforts in Japan.
http://sharp-world.com/corporate/eco/csr_report/2008pdf/sharp38e.pdf
http://sharp-world.com/corporate/eco/data/used.html
Table 2 - Annual recycling amount and ratio
Home appliances
(TVs, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Washing machines) |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
| Amount(tons) |
36,320 |
37,967 |
43,097 |
| Ratio(%) |
23.0 |
21.4 |
26.2 |
Note:Ratio is calculated by the weights of the sold products and recycled products in that year.
Contact Information for Product Recycling in Japan
Efforts in Other Regions
In China, Sharp is part of a working group studying the laws and regulations for recycling used electrical products. In Thailand and Australia, where recycling legislations are currently being considered, Sharp is actively cooperating with industry associations in the construction of effective recycling systems.
Australia currently has no recycling regulations for TVs. In November 2004, however, a not-for-profit company, PSA (Product Stewardship Australia Ltd.), was established. PSA’s role is to design and recommend to the government an end-of-life policy for the environmentally friendly disposal of TVs and to ultimately carry out management and implementation of this policy once legislation is created. Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty. Ltd. (SCA), Sharp’s sales subsidiary in Australia, is a founding member of PSA and contributed seed funding for its establishment. SCA also has one of its senior executives on PSA’s Board of Directors. Together with the Australian government PSA is working to devise a regulatory framework for end-of-life recycling of all TVs in Australia and ensure that all importers share the burden of recycling equally.
And SCA’s participation in Mobile Muster, a voluntary take-back and recycling program for mobile phones and mobile phone batteries in Australia, is another example of Sharp’s efforts to help build a sustainable, recycling-oriented society.
Contact Information for Product Recycling in Australia
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