Recycling

The Programs

Sun's recycling programs consistently divert tons of materials from landfills, and save literally hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

Sun's recycling and solid waste reduction programs include:

• Waste Reduction
• Office Paper Recycling
• Pallet Recycling
• Cardboard Recycling
• Foam Recycling
• Computer Equipment Recycling
• California Electronic Waste Recycling Act
• Maine E-Waste

Waste Reduction

Sun's internal waste reduction program is aimed at reducing:

• The amount of excess printed materials ordered and discarded
• Excessive office paper consumption by configuring all printers to print on both sides of the paper
• The use of unnecessarily large envelopes

Office Paper Recycling

Sun's Office Paper Recycling program focuses on waste that can be easily recycled by employees nationwide. Recycling and trash bins located in each office, in conference rooms, break areas and copy rooms allow and encourage employees to recycle materials, including:

• White paper
• Proprietary office paper & materials
• Overhead transparencies
• Beverage cans and bottles

Sun doesn't stop there:

• Old fluorescent light tubes are accumulated and sent for recovery and recycling of heavy metals (mercury) in the tubes, the steel caps, and the glass itself
• Toner and fax cartridges are collected and recycled
• Binders are reused by local schools and charitable organizations
• Employees conduct periodic "Clean Sweeps" to recycle furniture, CDs, software and hardware

Pallet Recycling

Sun's closed-loop recycling program for pallets has been operating at it's Newark, Cal and Hillsboro, Or. warehouse, manufacturing, and delivery sites for years. This money saving program:

• Consistently operates in the black
• Keeps 100% of Sun's used pallets out of landfills
• Won a 1990 Business Environmental Award from the Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation

Sun's pallet coordinator offers rebates for returned pallets and discounts when Sun accepts used or reconditioned pallets. The pallets are manufactured according to specifications from Sun's engineering department, and the new pallets are delivered to the required sites. The company also picks up used wood and foam pallets from each site at regular intervals and returns them for re-use.

Cardboard Recycling

Sun campuses and cafeterias that generate large amounts of corrugated cardboard are equipped with compactors that reduce the material to a manageable size. A  waste disposal company then recycles it.

Foam Recycling

Foam packaging peanuts and inserts are collected in special bins at Sun's offices and manufacturing sites, and then picked up and recycled by one of the company's recycling partners.

Computer Equipment Recycling

Used computer equipment is collected and sent to a third-party asset recovery vendor for recycling or re-manufacture. For more on Sun's extensive Equipment Re-Use Program, please contact Sun's Asset Recovery Manager.