Canon and Waterloo Business Management (WBM) mark first anniversary of recycling partnership

Canon UK & Ireland and Waterloo Business Management (WBM), a specialist providing businesses with an easy and environmentally friendly way to recycle printer consumables, are marking the first anniversary of their recycling partnership. 

Over the past year, the initiative has successfully diverted 33.8 tonnes of toner cartridge and printer consumable waste from landfill, enabling the recovery of high quality raw materials through an advanced closed loop recycling system. This milestone represents tangible progress toward Canon’s sustainability objectives and supports its global commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire product lifecycle ­– including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions – by 2050.

Recycling used print products can be a challenge, often requiring bespoke treatment and processing to achieve raw material recovery. Prior to launching the collaboration in January 2024, WBM enhanced its specialist solution that separates materials and removes contamination, providing customers with a seamless user experience and guaranteed full traceability of recycled material. 

Unlike generic recycling schemes that aggregate materials from multiple brands, WBM’s OEM specific approach allows for greater material consistency and recovery efficiency. This model enables Canon to uphold high standards across its recycling operations, while offering customers a trusted, reliable and traceable recycling service.

Following a successful initial roll out to managed print service (MPS) clients, the operational programme now has over 336 registered customers covering over 1008 account locations. WBM has made 892 collections, picked up 2922 boxes, with 42,375 toner bottles recycled in this period, equating to over 33.8 tonnes to date.

Rigorous testing confirmed that the recycled plastic recovered often outperforms virgin material in certain applications, reflecting both WBM’s innovative solutions, and Canon’s commitment to environmental responsibility and leadership in circular economy practices.

WBM offers Canon customers a comprehensive recycling solution – from collection to the processing of waste – with full visibility throughout the entire waste journey. Through a user friendly online portal, customers can access historical recycling records, download environmental compliance certificates, and verify the traceability of recycled materials. 

Amid evolving environmental regulations, this level of transparency provides customers with the tools and confidence to demonstrate compliance, track progress against sustainability objectives, and strengthen their environmental credentials.

James O’Connor, managing director at WBM, commented: ‘Our partnership with Canon has enabled WBM to make printer component recycling more accessible and efficient, operating at a wider scale that was not previously possible. This expanded capability not only allows us to significantly increase the volume of recycled materials but also supports its sustainability goals and enhances the value we deliver to customers, offering them a more responsible and environmentally conscious way to manage their print infrastructure.’

Arpitha Swamy, environment and product safety specialist at Canon UK & Ireland, added: ‘We actively working to enhance the recyclability of our products as part of our broader commitment to a circular economy. Our partnership with WBM helps reduce waste and keep materials out of landfill. We are excited to deepen our collaboration, bring the service to more customers across the UK, and support our partners on their sustainability journeys.’