Caring for the Environment

Brother is at the forefront of sustainable and environmentally responsible business in New Zealand. Not only have we gained the prestigious ISO14001 Environmental certification, we also have in place as of 1 April 2008, a comprehensive hardware and consumables recycling program. This program not only seeks to recover Brother consumables and hardware from the corporate sector, but also to recover and recycle Brother printer hardware and consumables from the mass consumer market.

Brother globally takes the concept of “Corporate Social Responsibility” to heart as we seek to give life to “At Your Side”. This has seen Brother in New Zealand take the lead in the consumer electronics industry by introducing a recycling policy that reaches every market segment.

We have partnered with experienced recycling suppliers to bring this service to you. The Toner Recycling Centre and Remarkit Solutions offer strong track records and proven performance in their chosen areas of expertise. The Toner Recycling Centre for consumables and Remarkit Solutions Limited for hardware recycling.

Percentage waste to landfill based on weight is in the single digit percentages and in most cases is under 5% to landfill. Both organisations support worthy ventures such as The Abilities Group who provide meaningful employment to disabled Kiwis who help process the recycled materials.

Our challenge to all New Zealanders who have honoured Brother by purchasing our products, is to dispose of waste materials in an environmentally responsible manner to help preserve the planet for future generations.

Recycling consumables

Recycling consumables has two beneficial impacts, namely reducing the amount of waste to landfill and re-using the materials used in the manufacture of our consumables. At Brother we have realised that to call ourselves a “Socially Responsible Corporate”, words need to translate into actions. Through our comprehensive recycling programme, we believe we have achieved this. Our challenge to the New Zealanders and businesses that purchase our products is to also act in an environmentally responsible manner and dispose of consumables in a manner that sees less waste going to landfill.

Often this is easy to say but the means to act in an environmentally friendly manner has often been difficult to take advantage of. No longer is this the case. With Brother we have made it simple to do the right thing.

Household and Small Business

With all of our Inkjet Multifunction Products and entry level mono laser products, we now include a consumables recycling bag enclosed within a “packing slip” sticker attached to the outside of each carton. When your consumables are empty, simply place in the free post bag and post free of charge from anywhere in New Zealand to Brother. Each bag is collated by NZ Post before being redirected to the Toner Recycling Centre in Auckland. The process couldn’t be simpler:

* Remove bag from “packing slip” label and keep the plastic bags each ink cartridge was shipped in

* Note your name and delivery address on the back of the envelope so a new bag can be sent to you

* Stockpile at least 4 empty ink cartridges or one spent toner or drum and place in the bag

* In the case of the cartridges, place each in the plastic bag supplied with the empty cartridges if you have kept it, or use the bag supplied with each new ink cartridge purchased

* In the case of the toner or drum, place in the bag as is

* The last step is to simply post the bag. In the case of some toner or drum packages, the bag may need to be taken to the nearest Post Shop and dropped off

Thanks to Brother, the Toner Recycling Centre and New Zealand Post recycling consumables has never been easier. If you misplace your recycling bag, or purchased a Brother product without one, please call the Toner Recycling Centre on 0800 180 160 and request a Brother recycling bag. Remember to state whether the bag is for ink cartridges (small bag) or toner/drum (large bag).

If you suspect your used consumable will not fit into a recycling bag, refer to our drop off points for the nearest location to dispose of your used consumable.

Medium to Corporate Size Business

Brother, in association with the Toner Recycling Centre now provide empty consumable collection boxes free to Brother corporate customers to dispose of their used consumables. From the smallest ink cartridge to the largest drum unit, all consumables can be placed in the box. Call your Brother account manager to request a box . Once you are in TRC's system and need to re-order another box, you must state that it is a Brother box or you may be charged for the service.

Whether you choose a large or small box the process is the same:

* When the box is full call 0800 180 160 to request the box be collected

* You will be quoted a 6 digit job number which can be written in the space provided at the top of the box

* Allow 2 to 3 days for the box to be collected. This is the same wherever you are in New Zealand

* The replacement box will most likely be delivered about a day or so before the full box is collected

We will even accept other brand consumables in the Brother boxes but please limit recycling to consumables and not hardware or general recycling.

Recycling Your Printer

Brother manufactures an extensive range of inkjet multifunction printers as well as colour and mono laser printers and multifunctions. As one of the leading suppliers of printing and imaging technology to the consumer and business markets we acknowledge we have a moral responsibility to recover and recycle Brother hardware.

In recognition of this we have partnered with Remarkit Solutions who are leaders in the provision of hardware recycling to the corporate sector. They will breakdown and arrange for recycling of the various elements common to each printer from the plastic casing to individual metal components.

Household and Small Business

In instances where a business may have one or maybe two Brother printers to dispose of, the machine can be taken to the nearest Remarkit drop off point in either Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, or one of the Brother Authorised Service and Recycling Centre drop off points throughout New Zealand. That’s all there is to it. Please support these businesses as they are doing their bit for the environment.

Medium to Corporate Size Business

If you are a Brother Corporate Customer and have Brother hardware that you wish to be collected and recycled, contact your Brother Corporate representative to arrange for a collection to be made.

Please pass on details such as the quantity of printers to be collected as well as the model and serial numbers. Please arrange the machines in one assembly point for easy collection.