The Way We Manage Resources

A basic assumption of Lexmark is recycling policy is to use a high-tech recycling specialist in a given geographical area. A good environmental policy plans the recycling actions as from the design phase: thus we’ve decided to develop a real partnership with a leading edge company. We work hand in hand with it as from the conception phase of our products to achieve a high standard recycling process.

A unique recycling process to support a top class environmental policy

To chose our recycling partner, we carefully took into account the growing number of legal, environmental and economical constraints. The Dutch based company - Sims MIREC - has been chosen for its well-known experience in the recycling of electronic goods. Our partner management systems are all ISO 14001 and 9000 certified.  Through continuous improvement, Lexmark will keep offering leading edge product recycling capabilities. 

Sims MIREC developed a unique recycling process that follows our corporate policy: no landfill, no incineration of our products. At least 75% of the fractions coming out of the recycling operations, after manual and mechanical treatment, are reused as secondary raw material.  We periodically audit their environmental compliance and assess the quality of their operations. Lexmark is capable to report on a yearly basis the collected weight and the recycling rates of the waste that we have recovered.

Design for waste minimisation and easy recycling

Our products are designed to minimise waste and ease the recycling of our products. Stringent environmental specifications have been developed to ensure that this goal is clearly reached.
Below quoted are just a few examples of how we implement this policy.

	We design equipment and components for easy disassembly and according to the existing recycling technologies.
	We reduce the number of material used (I.e. maximum of four separable polymers blends used for plastic casings).
	We limit the hazardous flame retardants in our plastic parts.
	We avoid coatings and composite materials, avoid the use of non separable bond (ie glued, welded) between different materials. Thus, we integrate snap fit joints where possible to connect parts. These snap fit joints eliminate additional disassembly time associated with screws.
	We mark our products for easy indentification and removal. For instance, we label all plastic parts with the material and flame retardants used above 25 g or having a non-functional flat area >200mm2 as recyclable according to ISO 11469:2000. The batteries are labelled to show hazard warnings, battery type/chemistry and manufacturer/brand name.

Lexmark Recycling Process Scenario

1/ Product Sorting & Disassembly

The Lexmark used equipment is disassembled, key components that can be reused are removed for reliability testing and refurbishment. At this stage, parts and components that require additional or separate treatment before recycling - typically cartridges - are also separated from the main product.

2/ Recycling Line :  products shredding & components sorting

With the unique sorting techniques developed by our recycling partner, the input flows are shredded and sorted into various flows such as plastics, ferrous metal and non ferrous metal such as copper and aluminium.

3/ New Products and Applications

There are many new applications developed for recycled products nowadays.

The metals are sent to smelters for reprocessing into secondary raw metal materials. These materials are then sold to producers for remanufacture into everyday products such as cars components, electronics, toys, construction materials and furniture.

Mixed waste plastics are being processed into new polymer products and are being converted into chemicals and fuels. More pure plastic blends can be liquefied and pelletized into a raw secondary plastic material ready for remolding into new products such as CD plates.