The Co-operative Bank is committed to delivering ambitious environmental targets and as part of this it is removing the need for online banking to be processed using a card reader. This shift is positive in terms of future waste prevention, however for the card readers that are currently in circulation it leaves what is essentially a waste product that is not easily recycled now with its customers. This new recycling scheme will take back these readers and recycle them to prevent them from ending up in landfill.
As the card readers are returned to branches or offices, they will be bulked onsite to minimise transportation and in turn carbon emissions. Reconomy will manage the recycling process, sending the readers to a UK based facility to be broken down into their component waste streams before being recycled. Batteries will be manually removed and stored safety, before being sent to a battery recycling specialist. The remaining materials will be shredded and sent to a refiner, enabling 100% recycling with no landfill requirements.
The aim is to recycle up to 100,000 card readers as part of this initial drive. Reconomy are The Co-operative Bank’s waste management partner and are working together to deliver against the bank’s environmental sustainability, helping us to drive initiatives such as these through the business.