Recycling and Waste Reduction Programs

EMC recommends that customers redeploy their older generation EMC products. Redeployment enables a customer to maximize use of its equipment and reduces the total cost of ownership. When redeployment is not possible, EMC has processes to take back the equipment from the customer.

EMC has numerous processes to assure electronic waste is properly managed and disposed of in accordance with federal and local laws and in an environmentally conscious manner. EMC works with Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD) providers and recyclers to assure maximum reclamation of raw materials, asset protection and data security throughout the recycle lifecycle while deriving maximum value and lowering demand for new materials whenever possible.

Internal recycling programs

Since 2000, EMC has maintained a robust in-house recycling program across our corporate campuses. The program includes paper products, cardboard, computers, fluorescent bulbs, aluminum cans, batteries, and office supplies.

Since the program's inception, in Massachusetts alone EMC has saved the estimated equivalents of:

• 21,661 trees
• 8,918,854 gallons of water
• 107,026 gallons of oil
• 5,182,995 kilowatts of electricity
• 3,822 yards of landfill

According to metrics tabulated by E.L. Harvey & Sons, EMC's recycling contractor, our efforts in the last 12 months have prevented more than 500 tons of material from being disposed. This achievement—far above the average for Massachusetts companies—has decreased the company's impact on the environment and significantly reduced disposal costs.

The success of EMC's recycling efforts is attributed to employee awareness and training programs—which in turn promote further awareness and inspire similar activities

Electronics

EMC's old or unused office electronics, including desktops, laptops, and printers, are re-used, donated, re-sold to employees, or recycled and disposed of by a certified agent.

Packaging initiatives

EMC has instituted returnable packaging initiatives and packaging re-designs that are significantly reducing waste and increasing efficiency. For example, we redesigned one disk drive package with 100 percent reusable materials, reducing its material weight by 17 percent, decreasing space requirements and freight costs, and even lowering labor time for packing and unpacking. This re-design alone will save the company an estimated $267,000 annually.

We also maintain a de-trashing program to reuse and recycle as much packaging as possible. This program diverted 986,423 pounds of material from the waste stream in 2007.

Hazardous waste

EMC maintains strict controls on waste generation—with an emphasis on reducing or eliminating the use of hazardous materials. As a result, EMC's manufacturing operations generate only a small amount of hazardous waste.