The waste of small pieces of network cable used to make connections between computers and devices on a network they are no longer used began to accumulate a large volume in the Infrastructure area of the Information Technology department. Developer Cristiano Rodrigo dos Santos decided to seek a solution for the problem. “I asked the supplier Furukawa, who provide us cables and connectors if there were any recycling program for network cables and they responded sending us the presentation of the Green It” he says.
The Green IT program is a sustainable solution and consists of the exchange of electronic cables leftovers and energy (regardless of manufacturer) for new Furukawa cables in order to rationalize the use of non-renewable resources through the treatment of waste disposal structured cabling products. “I presented the program to the Environmental department and explained the need to dispose of this material. Thus we registered the company and began to exchange cable parts for new cables.”
The company Furukawa and the Green IT Program issued a certificate thanking Prati-Donaduzzi for participating in the program and recycling 119 kilograms of structured network materials. Thus we prevented that approximately 59.5 kilograms of materials contaminated with heavy metals from being disposed in landfills; we reduced the mining of 11.3 tons of copper ore; and we reduce the consumption of 1,138 kilowatts - enough energy to power eight homes for one month. “We have made four other shipments with approx. 100 kilos each and we received in return some five thousand meters of cables, representing saving equivalent to more than five thousand reais.” said Cristiano.

Special Disposal
Currently, the destination of the PVC contained in cables is the common garbage or incineration. The incineration of PVC releases harmful amounts of chromium, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, Lead, Cadmium and Dioxides. 40% of the lead and 50% of the chromium go to the atmosphere and the remainder is deposited in the soil. These are extremely toxic and carcinogenic elements. They may cause genetic deformities, allergies, respiratory problems, bone demineralization and irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes. The material exchanged through this barter system is treated and recycled turning into raw material for other industries.