Panasonic joins ANZRP national e-waste recycling service

Melbourne, 11 April, 2012: Panasonic Australia today joined the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform, the country’s first permanent industry led service to collect and recycle electronic waste. Panasonic MD Mr Steve Rust also recently joined the ANZRP interim board as a board member.

Panasonic Australia Managing Director Steve Rust said, “Panasonic is totally onboard with the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform. We considered the organisation’s transparent and independent operating model, not for profit status and critical mass. We decided ANZRP offers the best environmental outcomes, management credibility and governance model and I’m delighted to join the interim board.”

ANZRP General Manager Carmel Dollisson said, "We are very pleased to welcome Panasonic as an ANZRP member and to have Steve Rust join our interim board and we welcome Steve’s insight, industry knowledge and support.”

“ANZRP is a product stewardship organisation - that is, we are about ensuring the responsible recycling of end of life TVs and computers. The decision about which arrangement to join is beyond price. It’s about meeting strict environmental standards and protecting brand reputation. Ultimately, its about increasing the proportion of e-waste being recycled thus diverted from landfill, and reducing the drain on our natural resources to benefit the environment, our community and our children’s future,” said Carmel Dollisson.

Community access to e-waste service

Under ANZRP’s service, the community gains free and more extensive access to permanent e-waste collection sites and improved access to collection events in regional and remote areas from July 2012. These locations will give the public reasonable access at metropolitan, outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas.

Carmel Dollisson said. “e-waste will be collected, handled and recycled in accordance with environmental standards locally and internationally. Where possible, dismantling, processing and recycling will take place within Australia and even when processed overseas it will meet with these standards.”

ANZRP is an approved co-regulatory arrangement under the government’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. The Scheme aims to boost the recycling rate for televisions and computers from 17 per cent in 2010 to 80 per cent by 2020-21, and to provide a long-term solution to television and computer waste. Under the scheme, importers, manufacturers and distributors of televisions and computers must join an arrangement to recycle end of life products.

Industry backed and led

ANZRP is a not for profit member body, with membership open to computer andtelevision manufacturers, importers and distributors. ANZRP was kick-started

by 13 major technology brands and will be funded by its members to meet theirliability under the scheme. ANZRP is the result of ten years of effort and collaboration by representatives from major technology and television brands from the Australian Information Industry Association and the Consumer Electronics Suppliers’ Association.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

About ANZRP

Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform Limited (ANZRP) is a not forprofit, industry-run member body established to collect and recycle electronicwaste on behalf of its members. For more information visit www.anzrp.com.au

For media enquiries (ANZRP)

Carmel Dollisson

General Manager, ANZRP Limited

Mobile: 0418 360 057

carmel.dollisson@anzrp.com.au

For media enquiries (Panasonic)