CBA keeps EFTPOS terminals out of landfill

The Commonwealth Bank has revealed it has partnered with an e-waste specialist to recycle "tens of thousands" of unwanted EFTPOS terminals this year.

The terminals were decommissioned as part of what the bank called an "extensive upgrade" project.

"We partnered with Sims e-Recycling, arranging for them to process the terminals at their advanced e-waste recycling facility," CBA said in its Sustainability Report 2009.

"As a result, up to 98 percent of the materials recovered from the old terminals will be refined and eventually used to manufacture other items, keeping toxic materials out of landfill and generating less carbon emissions."

CBA detailed a number of IT initiatives it had taken to reduce its impact on the environment this year.

"One extremely effective initiative implemented this year is the automated overnight shutdown of desktop computers across our Australian operations," CBA said.

"Computers automatically restart in the early morning, saving energy overnight without reducing productivity."

The bank is also using Ricoh to recycle all of the print toner cartridges used at its new Sydney Olympic Park offices.

CBA also touted the migration of customers away from printed to electronic materials. It said more than 1.5 million deposit accounts and 274,000 credit card accounts had switched to online statements since January last year.

The bank had also moved "a range of other paperwork" online, including product applications, direct mail campaigns, its Financial Services Guide, and Terms and Conditions documents.

"As a result, we saved more than 10.2 million pieces of paper in the 12 months to June 2009," CBA said.

CBA also said "around 20 percent" of Colonial First State customers had chosen to receive investment information electronically.