ENVIROPORT 2007
> INTRODUCTIONTHE GREEN STANDARDRESOURCE CONSERVATIONPRESERVING HABITATS & SPECIESEDUCATION & AWARENESS
What we are doing...
Recycling Accomplishments
Green Purchasing
Case Study: Greening our Media
Case Study: Reusing the Set
Case Study: X Games Environmentality

Recycling Accomplishments





Business units Companywide have achieved increases in recycling during the last reporting period. The Walt Disney Company as a whole has recycled more than 925,000 tons of materials since 1991. Tokyo Disneyland Resort continues to lead the Company in overall waste diversion totaling 64 percent. Increases in recycling were reported at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Resort Paris, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Walt Disney World Resort, ABC New York, Adventures by Disney, and Miramax, among other business units.

TWDC was again recognized in 2007 by both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) WasteWise program and the California Integrated Waste Management Board WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program) for recycling and waste minimization achievements. The EPA "WasteWise 2007 Gold Achievement Award for Paper Reduction" was presented in acknowledgement of the Company's success in paper reduction, largely a result of transitioning the entire Disney Catalog to an online shopping experience at www.disneyshopping.com. This initiative has resulted in the elimination of 1.8 billion sheets of paper. TWDC's overall paper reduction efforts avoided approximately 9,094 tons of waste.

In 2008, TWDC will be rolling out a streamlined recycling program to help increase waste diversion across all divisions. Employees and Cast Members are expected to participate in recycling traditional commodities like cans, bottles, and paper, in addition, to electronics, electronic media (DVD's and CD's), and cell phones. Click here for more information about this effort.

Electronics Recycling

Disney continued electronic waste recycling efforts with a national contractor, Intechra®, to provide cost-effective services to business units nationwide. Central processing units (CPUs), monitors, keyboards, stereos, and other audio and visual devices are collected and safely recycled. Items that have resale or recycling value generate a small profit, which is used to offset the cost of hauling electronics. Electronics that cannot be refurbished or salvaged for repair parts are dismantled via industrial grinders that shred materials and separate metal and plastic components, which are then sold to industry. All facilities comply with local and national safety, health and environmental laws, and no electronic waste is sent overseas. Additionally, Disney's international business units have similar contracts with electronic waste recyclers in their respective countries.

Several sites have also assisted Cast Members and employees in recycling personal, obsolete electronics by hosting collection events:

  • Disneyland Resort held a Cast Member e-waste collection event in April, partnering with the California Department of Toxic Substance Control's "Take It Back" program and Goodwill Industries. Nearly eight tons of electronics were recycled or rebuilt and resold by Goodwill.
  • Houston's KTRK-TV and Radio Disney hosted the city's first ever "E-cycling Drive" with support from Disney's Environmental Affairs, the City of Houston, and external corporate sponsors. Volunteers collected over 20 tons of electronics from more than 700 donors.
  • Walt Disney World Resort hosted an annual "Bring it From Home" hazardous waste collection event in each of the four major zones of the property. The event included electronic scrap for the first time.