An Inky Dilemna

More than 40 percent of American homes have computer printers that use plastic ink cartridges. Where do they all go?

September/October 2003
By Abbie Enyart 
SO-03-022-10-PrinterPics2.jpg
Image Gallery
Photo courtesy Funding Factory
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

THE BAD NEWS: Every year, Americans discard 300 million ink and laser cartridges, estimates the International Imaging Technology Council. That’s a lot of industrial-grade styrene plastic dumped into landfills. And because an entire tri-chambered color ink cartridge must be replaced when it runs out of one color, some highly caustic ink lands in the dump.

RELATED CONTENT

THE GOOD NEWS: Many schools and nonprofits now collect and recycle empty printer ink cartridges. One recycling program, run by the Funding Factory, has enrolled 22,000 institutions that send in used cartridges and cell phones. Participating schools earn reward points redeemable for computers, playground equipment, or supplies. Funding Factory and similar companies refurbish and refill inkjet and laser cartridges, then sell them for less than new cartridges.

HELP OUT! To find a participating school or nonprofit group in your area, log on to FundingFactory.com or call (888) 883-8237.

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Natural Home readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Natural Home Magazine?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe today and save 50%
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Subscribe to Natural Home

Welcome to Natural Home, the authority on green lifestyle and design. With an up-to-date outlook on current trends in sustainable building and wholesome living, Natural Home gives today’s eco-conscious homeowners the information they need to live in nurturing, healthy homes. Subscribe to Natural Home today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

Save money and a few trees by paying with your credit card now. Take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You’ll save an additional $4.95 and get six issues of Natural Home for just $15! (Offer valid only in the U.S.)

Or, choose Bill Me Later and pay just $19.95