H-P Looks to Improve Computer Recycling

Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a service that allows consumers and businesses to recycle unwanted computers and equipment from any manufacturer.

The service is part of HP's Planet Partners Program, which includes a broad range of environmental and recycling initiatives. Accessed via the Web at www.hp.com/go/recycle, the service includes pickup, transportation, evaluation for reuse or donation, and environmentally sound recycling for products ranging from PCs and printers to servers and scanners. Pricing is based on the quantity and type of product to be returned.

All computer equipment received will first be evaluated for reuse. Functioning products will be donated to charitable organizations that accept used equipment or will enter into other reuse channels. The remaining equipment will be recycled through a process designed to maximize product re-use and material recovery.

To address the issue, HP selected Micro Metallics Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Noranda Inc. to work with HP to develop a one-of-a-kind process that evaluates in-coming equipment, redeploys working equipment, extracts parts that can be re-used and recycles remaining products and components. The $4 million processing line includes specially designed shredders to grind equipment into pieces the size of a quarter. From there, a series of separators and magnets pull out the component metals and plastics for recycling.

Together, HP and Noranda manage and operate the state-of-the-art facility where this recycling process takes place. This facility, located in Roseville, Calif., currently processes up to 4 million pounds a month of used equipment from HP and other corporate customers' facilities.