Developing and Raising the Level of Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Activities  (Ricoh Group/Global)
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Zero-Waste-to-Landfill activities are carried out at Ricoh's sites all over the world. The Ricoh Group defines Zero-Waste-to-Landfill as a 100% resource recovery rate, or no waste used as landfill. Zero-Waste-to-Landfill was achieved at its major production sites in Japan in March 2001 and at production sites outside of Japan in March 2002. Thus, the Group achieved Zero-Waste-to-Landfill at all its major global production sites. Since then, these activities have been promoted at non-production sites both at home and abroad and at companies that have newly joined the Group. At sites that have already achieved Zero-Waste-to-Landfill, efforts are being made to raise the level of Zero-Waste-to-Landfill, including controlling the volume generated and the conversion of waste into useful materials, under the concepts of sustainable environmental management.
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Concepts in raising the level of Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Activities
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Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Achieved at a New Group Company  (Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd./Japan)
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| Staff members in charge of environmental activities at Ricoh Printing Systems |
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Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd., is a printer manufacturer that joined the Ricoh Group in October 2004. Before joining the Group, the company's target was to achieve a landfill ratio of under 1% to total waste volume. The Ricoh Group's target, however, is to raise "the resource recovery rate of waste to 100%," and it was necessary for Ricoh Printing Systems to review its conventional waste disposal methods. In fiscal 2005, the company introduced Zero-Waste-to-Landfill activities in compliance with the Ricoh standards, reviewing the types of wastes and changing disposal methods and recycling routes. Consequently, Zero-Waste-to-Landfill was achieved at all of its five sites. Specific revisions were made in 13 cases at the Katsuta, Taga, and Yamagata sites. They improved disposal methods for every type of waste, introducing the recycling of corrugated cardboard and wooden pallets and reducing the generation of toner waste by establishing new recycling facilities. These efforts resulted in a reduction in disposal costs of ¥12 million.
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