MITSUBISHI Electric has launched a new recycling programme for its range of air conditioning and photovoltaic modules to help return raw materials back into the supply chain.
The company has developed a comprehensive 'end of life' recycling programme with Overton Recycling of Stourbridge offering a free of charge collection of air conditioning equipment to Mitsubishi Electric customers, subject to conditions.

Overton is also able to accept returned systems with refrigerant pumped back to the outdoor unit and will arrange free collection from almost any site in the UK during normal business hours.

'Recycling is one of our core corporate commitments and forms part of the way we do business through our Green Gateway philosophy,' said Debbie Reeve, marketing manager for Mitsubishi Electric's corporate solutions and air conditioning products.

'Many of our corporate customers have been asking for a recycling scheme and we believe that this is not only the right thing for a responsible manufacturer to do, but that it makes sound economic sense as well,' she added.

Overton's plant at its West Midlands site can recycle individual metals and strip components from old units to be processed to maximise the amount of raw materials that can be recovered.

An online, easy to operate product take-back software tool, designed specifically for Mitsubishi Electric customers is available via http://recycling.mitsubishielectric.co.uk.

'We are delighted to be working with Mitsubishi Electric to help dispose of obsolete kits in an environmentally friendly way,' comments Dean Overton, managing director, Overton Recycling. 'Mitsubishi Electric's forward thinking approach to recycling demonstrates its commitment to ensure that equipment containing R22 gas is disposed of responsibly by 2015 and we look forward to a long and successful working relationship,' he added.

Overton will collect any equipment, regardless of the brand, for Mitsubishi Electric account holders or its Corporate clients. The specialist recycling process ensures that 99.1 per cent of all materials are recovered and recycled, and the company can also prepare and submit reports to the Environment Agency on behalf of customers.

With high pressures and the volumes of gas contained in air conditioning systems, careful handling and degassing by F-gas compliant operators is critical. Once degassed, units are stripped by hand and then processed into the individual raw materials for reuse.

Ms Reeve added: 'We have worked with Overton as part of our 3 R's approach to manufacturing as we are committed to reducing the amount of resources we use in our products in the first place, and we already incorporate and reuse recycled materials in our manufacturing process.'