A plastic recycling initiative by computer and printer manufacturer HP has turned around 4 billion plastic bottles into printer cartridges while working with people from developing nations from around the world.
Following a pledge in September 2016, HP launched its plastic purchasing program in Haiti in the second half of 2017.
In doing so they have partnered with local groups including Thread and the First Mile Coalition which are looking to address the issues of child labour and pollution resulting from the nearby presence of the country’s biggest landfill.
HP are also funding local businesses and job training initiatives with the goal of encouraging further recycling.
One Haitian collection centre owner, Rosette Altidor, credits the program with benefitting the Haitian community and has featured in a recent video production by HP.
“The work that [Thread and] HP are doing helps me get my children to school, and helps me pay for my home. It motivates me to motivate others to collect plastic as well. Everyone can benefit from clean-up work in Haiti.”
Computer manufacturer Dell is also working with Haiti on making use of its waste; turning plastic ocean pollution, including that found on Haiti’s beaches, into computers that are made of up to 25% recycled ocean plastics.
Projects such as this, as well as positive environmental action from everyday Haitians, are also part of efforts to restore a country still feeling the effects of tsunamis in 2010 that killed several hundred thousand people, damaged infrastructure and bombarded the nation’s coastline with debris and ocean pollution.
Positive Actions
Drop off your printer cartridges in a Cartridges 4 Planet Ark box, which can be found at all Officeworks stores, and participating Australia Post, Good Guys, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi
If your state/territory has a container deposit scheme (South Australia, NT, NSW) return any eligible containers, and put the rest in kerbside recycling - visit recyclingnearyou.com.au to find out what you can and can’t recycling
Sources
HP Triple Pundit New Scientist YouTubeSubscribe to Positive Environment News
Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.