Warner Bros. Entertainment

Warner Bros. Studios has increased its overall recycling rate from 7% in 1992 to 65% in 2005. That means that more than half of the waste stream, about 11 million pounds annually, is recycled and reprocessed into new products, also saving $300,000 in disposal costs. More information about Warner Bros.’ environmental efforts is available at www.wbenvironmental.com

Buy Recycled Campaign

Warner Bros. Studios implemented an environmental purchasing policy in 1993 which provides guidelines for purchasing products that reduce environmental impacts and increase markets for recycled products. For example, all copy paper purchased must have at least 30% post-consumer content, and letterhead is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled, non-chlorine bleached paper. More than 22% of Warner Bros. Studios’ purchases in 2005 had recycled content, including orders for toner cartridges which are automatically filled with remanufactured cartridges, saving $170,000 annually. The Studio’s truck fleet uses re-refined oil, as well as plastic lumber stake sides and parking stops.

Community Reuse

Through the Second Time Around: A Community Reuse Partnership program, Warner Bros. Studios donates computers, office supplies, furniture, paint, wood, stage props and other items to schools as well as community and nonprofit organizations throughout Southern California. This reduces waste disposal costs and benefits the community. In 2005, more than 225,000 pounds of materials were donated, benefiting 108 community organizations.

Waste Reduction

Warner Bros. believes in preventing waste before it is generated, through double-sided copies, electronic communication and reports, re-use of television stage sets and their various components, and use of steel scaffolding for platforms instead of wood. On the studio grounds, grass cuttings are diverted from the landfill by allowing them to compost right on the lawn—a process called “grass-cycling,” which also makes for healthier lawns. Many Warner Bros. Studios departments and production companies make use of the company’s office-supply re-use program, which enables them to pick up previously owned equipment and purchase fewer new supplies.

AOL

AOL recycles white paper, plastic, glass, aluminum cans, cardboard and toner cartridges. Because the market for recycled materials demands bulk, this recycling occurs primarily on the three largest AOL campuses. Batteries and CDs are recycled at locations where conditions allow.

To recycle CDs, mail the AOL CD to:
AOL CD Returns
22020 Broderick Drive
Dulles, VA 20166

Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable uses two EPA-compliant sources for the disposal and/or recycling of obsolete or unusable cable converter boxes and modems. Time Warner Cable has used these sources to recycle or dispose of material derived from over one million converter boxes totaling in excess of six million pounds of materials.

Time Inc.

Magazine Recycling

Time Inc. has joined with International Paper and the nonprofit National Recycling Coalition in a series of pilot projects to promote magazine recycling. This trash-to-treasure program is called ReMix, which stands for “Recycling magazines is excellent.”

ReMix has made a measurable difference. Since the 2004 startup, the amount of magazine recycling has increased 11% in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and 23% in Boston, the initial pilot communities. A third pilot project was added in 2005 in Milwaukee and eastern Wisconsin. ReMix plans to add new cities as it refines its promotional techniques. The ultimate goal is to develop self-sustaining national programs.

Time Warner Corporate

Computer Recycling at Corporate Headquarters

Retired computers are recycled in one of two ways. If the computer is deemed unusable, an environmentally-friendly destruction company disposes of it according to EPA regulations. If the computer is in decent working condition, the data is eradicated using Department of Defense standards. Software licenses are recouped after data eradication and are applied to other working computers. Once data is removed, the computers are resold. All profits from resale are used to offset the cost of the recycling process.

In addition to the computer hardware, laser-printer and fax cartridges are recycled with the help of the New York Chapter of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC), a nonprofit organization that provides important job training and employment opportunities to men and women overcoming disabilities.