SYDNEY, 23 April 2012: Canon Australia has officially joined the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), Australia's first not-for-profit, industry-run member body established to collect and recycle electronic waste.

ANZRP is an approved co-regulatory arrangement under the government's National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. Under the scheme, importers, manufacturers and distributors of televisions and computers are obliged to join an arrangement to recycle end-of-life products.

As a founding member of ANZRP, Canon Australia has played a key role in funding and promoting an industry-led approach to product collection and recycling.

David Klineberg, Canon's General Manager of Corporate Strategy and Communications said, "ANZRP is the result of a ten year effort and it will significantly help to reduce volumes of waste going to landfill. Canon is proud to have been involved in this initiative from the start, including being a current board member."

"It is Canon's corporate philosophy to support and nurture the communities and environments in which it operates and this is a great example," said David.

Canon firmly believes that a not-for-profit arrangement, owned and operated by industry with a competitive logistics and recycling model is the way forward. Overseas these schemes have proven to be the most effective.

Janet Leslie, Canon's Sustainability Manager said, "This is a significant investment for us and a result that we've been fighting for, for many years - a national scheme, simple for consumers and equitable for industry."

"Through ANZRP, all members will be treated equally and will also be in a position to individually set and monitor environmental, health and safety standards. ANZRP will engage external auditors to ensure that the recycling process is safe for both workers and the community and that there is complete traceability so that product collected under the scheme does not end up illegally exported to developing countries which has been a major problem in Europe and is a major risk to the community and to our brands if not managed correctly.

"We want this scheme to be the precursor to a national approach to ensure the responsible use and conservation of valuable resources for a whole range of products in the future and we are doing everything that we can to guarantee its success," concluded Janet.

ANZRP General Manager Carmel Dollisson said, "Canon has been a tremendous resource for us with a very deep and passionate commitment to our environmental and business goals. We are extremely grateful for their incredible support to date, their long term view, and their commitment to the best environmental and business outcomes."

Locally and globally Canon is committed to the environment through two key principles of reducing the impact of its own activities and helping customers reduce theirs. In Australia, Canon is a founding partner of Byteback, a pilot end-of-life take back scheme for IT equipment, and also a founding partner of Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, a national program for recycling laser and inkjet cartridges.

- Green Times