Lake Success, N.Y., January 11, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced that, in 2010, Canon Inc. will mark the 20th anniversary of the Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program, a zero-landfill program in which every component of the used all-in-one toner cartridges* that the Company collects is reused, recycled or recovered.

Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program: First-of-its-Kind
In 1982, Canon created the world’s first personal copying machines incorporating replaceable all-in-one toner cartridges. These toner cartridges were then adapted for use in laser beam printers and rapidly gained in popularity. However, with this increase in popularity came an increase in the number of used cartridges.  Canon’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei – living and working for the common good – has constantly provided the company with a keen awareness of environmental issues such as a commitment to waste reduction and resource conservation. 

In accordance with this commitment, Canon introduced the Toner Cartridge Recycling Program.  First launched in 1990, the program has collected approximately 220,000 metric tons of used toner cartridges. The initiative, launched on a global scale by a single business group at no cost to customers, marked a watershed moment within the industry.  The cartridge return program now operates in 23 countries worldwide, supported by four global recycling bases: Canon Ecology Industry Inc. in Japan; Canon Dalian Business Machines, Inc. in China; Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI) in the U.S.; and Canon Bretagne S.A.S. in France.       

Original News : Canon