©2011 The Recycling Center of America 1 Does your company have a CD & DVD End-of-Life Protocol? Managing a Disc’s Environmental Impact

©2011 The Recycling Center of America

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Does your company have a CD & DVD End-of-Life Protocol?

Managing a Disc’s Environmental Impact


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Why? - Today’s Situation…Why? - Today’s Situation…

Every month, millions of CDs and DVDs that are placed in the trash end up in landfills and incinerators.

Most people claim “I didn’t know CDs and DVDs can be recycled.”

Discs will ultimately never decompose in a landfill

Discs that get burned in an incinerator emit harmful gases into our environment.

Billions of discs are still being manufactured and distributed every year

Every month, millions of CDs and DVDs that are placed in the trash end up in landfills and incinerators.

Most people claim “I didn’t know CDs and DVDs can be recycled.”

Discs will ultimately never decompose in a landfill

Discs that get burned in an incinerator emit harmful gases into our environment.

Billions of discs are still being manufactured and distributed every year


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How Did We Get Here?How Did We Get Here? Many companies that distribute software on

discs do not have an “End of Life” product management program in place

Like the public, many companies do not realize the importance of recycling discs, or where to send discs for recycling

Town curbside recycling programs focus primarily on #1, #2 & #3 plastics. CDs and DVDs are #7, high grade, very reusable polycarbonate plastic. Since discs are not “marked” how to be recycled, discs are treated like a contaminate to the other types of plastics that are identified and recycled. Discs generally get removed and placed in a landfill.

Many companies that distribute software on discs do not have an “End of Life” product management program in place

Like the public, many companies do not realize the importance of recycling discs, or where to send discs for recycling

Town curbside recycling programs focus primarily on #1, #2 & #3 plastics. CDs and DVDs are #7, high grade, very reusable polycarbonate plastic. Since discs are not “marked” how to be recycled, discs are treated like a contaminate to the other types of plastics that are identified and recycled. Discs generally get removed and placed in a landfill.


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Please DO NOT let your company:

• Place discs in the trash• Shred discs while in cases• Notch-cut discs• Saw-cut discs• Send your discs to a waste-to-energy incineration plant


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Shredding discs in casesis not environmentally friendly

Shredding discs in casesis not environmentally friendly

Mass shredding is when the whole package is granulated

Contaminates paper in plastic

Contaminates plastic in paper

Creates powder “fines” Does not allow for proper

resource recovery Destined for a landfill

Mass shredding is when the whole package is granulated

Contaminates paper in plastic

Contaminates plastic in paper

Creates powder “fines” Does not allow for proper

resource recovery Destined for a landfill


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Notch/Saw Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Notch/Saw Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Notch Cutting is when the package has a small notch cut into it

Saw Cutting is when the package is destroyed by cutting in half with a saw

It contaminates paper in plastic

It contaminates plastic in paper

It creates powder “fines” IT does not allow for proper

resource recovery

Notch Cutting is when the package has a small notch cut into it

Saw Cutting is when the package is destroyed by cutting in half with a saw

It contaminates paper in plastic

It contaminates plastic in paper

It creates powder “fines” IT does not allow for proper

resource recovery


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Notch Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Notch Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Notch Cutting converts approximately 3% of the package into powder “fines”.

Millions of packages would produce tons of “fines” destined for a landfill.

NOTE: This disc might still play, for the data plays from the inside hub outward on the disc.

Notch Cutting converts approximately 3% of the package into powder “fines”.

Millions of packages would produce tons of “fines” destined for a landfill.

NOTE: This disc might still play, for the data plays from the inside hub outward on the disc.


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Saw Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Saw Cutting is not environmentally friendly

Saw Cut packages get baled and exported to countries, such as China.

Note: Packages can still be identified post destruction

Saw Cut packages get baled and exported to countries, such as China.

Note: Packages can still be identified post destruction


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Bad for humans & the environmentBad for humans & the environment Controversial labor

practices are utilized to disassemble and sort the baled mess.

Items are now very dangerous to hand sort

Items contain sharp edges and are difficult to handle

Items may get burned to convert to energy

Controversial labor practices are utilized to disassemble and sort the baled mess.

Items are now very dangerous to hand sort

Items contain sharp edges and are difficult to handle

Items may get burned to convert to energy


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SolutionSolution

The CD Recycling Center of America!

Manages: Incoming Logistics Total staged security Total package disassembly and sorting Destruction of necessary components 100% resource recovery

The CD Recycling Center of America!

Manages: Incoming Logistics Total staged security Total package disassembly and sorting Destruction of necessary components 100% resource recovery


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Material ReclamationProper sorting at The CD Recycling Center

secure sites yields best reclamation

Material ReclamationProper sorting at The CD Recycling Center

secure sites yields best reclamationDiscs • Cases • Paper


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Complete Disassembly- Creating American Jobs

Complete Disassembly- Creating American Jobs

1. Remove packages from cartons. 2. Remove shrink-wrap from the package. 3. Remove the Paper cover. 4. Remove the disc. 5. Shred the paper separately - then recycle to pulp. 6. Process the disc - then granulate back to resin. 7. Granulate the case - then recycle back to resin. 8. Bale shrink-wrap film - then recycle back to resin. 9. Reuse or chip pallets - wood processing

1. Remove packages from cartons. 2. Remove shrink-wrap from the package. 3. Remove the Paper cover. 4. Remove the disc. 5. Shred the paper separately - then recycle to pulp. 6. Process the disc - then granulate back to resin. 7. Granulate the case - then recycle back to resin. 8. Bale shrink-wrap film - then recycle back to resin. 9. Reuse or chip pallets - wood processing


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Complete SortingComplete Sorting 1. Shrink-wrap - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) #3 plastic 2. DVD case - Polypropylene (PP) #5 plastic or CD case

Polystyrene (PS) #6 plastic 3. Printed cover - Text weight paper, or board stock 4. DVD disc - Polycarbonate (PC)#7 plastic 5. Outer cartons - Cardboard paperboard - (OCC) 6. Pallet - Wood 7. Pallet wrap - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) #3 plastic

1. Shrink-wrap - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) #3 plastic 2. DVD case - Polypropylene (PP) #5 plastic or CD case

Polystyrene (PS) #6 plastic 3. Printed cover - Text weight paper, or board stock 4. DVD disc - Polycarbonate (PC)#7 plastic 5. Outer cartons - Cardboard paperboard - (OCC) 6. Pallet - Wood 7. Pallet wrap - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) #3 plastic


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Life of a DiscLife of a Disc

Virgin Polycarbonate Resin is molded into a new disc. A reflective layer, protective layer and ink layer are added.

Recycled discs are granulated and processed to become 99.5% pure and clean recycled polycarbonate material.

Virgin Polycarbonate Resin is molded into a new disc. A reflective layer, protective layer and ink layer are added.

Recycled discs are granulated and processed to become 99.5% pure and clean recycled polycarbonate material.


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What do recycled

CDs & DVDs become?

What do recycled

CDs & DVDs become? Automotive parts Home building materials Safety glasses • Helmets

• Distributor Caps • Decking and Fencing Material

Everyday items that can be manufactured from recycled polycarbonate

Automotive parts Home building materials Safety glasses • Helmets

• Distributor Caps • Decking and Fencing Material

Everyday items that can be manufactured from recycled polycarbonate


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Your New Sustainability Action Item: Your New Sustainability Action Item:

Promote, Educate, and collect

Use the CD Recycling Center logo

on your disc & packaging Promote customer education on

the importance of disc recycling Direct customers to The CD

Recycling Center for free disc recycling

Promote, Educate, and collect

Use the CD Recycling Center logo

on your disc & packaging Promote customer education on

the importance of disc recycling Direct customers to The CD

Recycling Center for free disc recycling


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The CD Recycling Center is spreading the word everyday!

The CD Recycling Center is spreading the word everyday!

News articles Radio Interviews School Programs Public Libraries Community Television Social Media Logo placed on media,

audio & software discs and related packaging

News articles Radio Interviews School Programs Public Libraries Community Television Social Media Logo placed on media,

audio & software discs and related packaging


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Companies That Send Discs to The CD Recycling Center of America

Companies That Send Discs to The CD Recycling Center of America

US Postal Service US Army & Navy UPS IRS IBM CBS AT & T Microsoft Blockbuster Video William Morris Agency Thousands of others

US Postal Service US Army & Navy UPS IRS IBM CBS AT & T Microsoft Blockbuster Video William Morris Agency Thousands of others


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Use of Logo is Free and Encouraged to Promote Recycling Awareness

Use of Logo is Free and Encouraged to Promote Recycling Awareness

Logo or website promotes and instructshow to recycle the discs when finished with.


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RecommendationsRecommendations Place The CD Recycling Logo on

new manufactured items Direct consumers on how to

properly recycle their discs when finished with

Promote and support The CD Recycling Center of

America!

Place The CD Recycling Logo on new manufactured items

Direct consumers on how to properly recycle their discs when finished with

Promote and support The CD Recycling Center of

America!

This Disc is Recyclable


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Thank You!Thank You!

BY instructing your customers how to properly recycle their unwanted discs with The CD Recycling Center of America, your company will:

Help control pollution Keep our landfills and incinerators cleaner Conserve Natural resources - namely oil Limit your business environmental impact Help the Earth!

EVERY DISC COUNTS.

BY instructing your customers how to properly recycle their unwanted discs with The CD Recycling Center of America, your company will:

Help control pollution Keep our landfills and incinerators cleaner Conserve Natural resources - namely oil Limit your business environmental impact Help the Earth!

EVERY DISC COUNTS.

Documents

©2011 The Recycling Center of America 1 Does your company have a CD & DVD End-of-Life Protocol? Managing a Disc’s Environmental Impact