Hewlett Packard recycled nearly 250 million pounds [over 113 million kg] of hardware and print cartridges globally in its fiscal year 2007: an increase of approximately 50 per cent over the previous year and the equivalent of more than double the weight of the Titanic.

HP also reused 65 million pounds [almost 30 million kg] of hardware to be refurbished for resale or donation, increasing its annual reuse rate by 30 per cent.

In 2007, HP surpassed its goal to recycle 1 billion pounds [approximately 450 million kg] of technology equipment and is well on its way to reaching its new goal to recover 2 billion pounds of products by the end of 2010.

‘HP set the most aggressive recovery goal in the IT industry and we’re on track to meet it,’ said Pat Tiernan, vice president, Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility, HP. ‘This progress demonstrates our success in offering convenient and comprehensive recovery services around the world and is another milestone in HP’s longstanding environmental commitment.’

Highlights from HP’s recycling programmes in 2007 include:

• In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, HP nearly doubled the amount it recycled over last year to 77,111 metric tonnes of equipment.
  
• In the Americas region, HP recycled an estimated 29,484 metric tonnes of equipment.
  
• In the Asia Pacific region, HP recycled 5,897 metric tonnes of equipment.
  

And last week, HP announced it has developed an engineering breakthrough that enables the use of post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new Original HP inkjet print cartridges. The company’s innovative recycling process facilitates the combination of multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics – from everyday water bottles to highly technical HP inkjet cartridges returned through HP’s Planet Partners programme.