Jane Powerson printer cartridges
Imagine an object engineered with such great precision that it is able to dispense infinitesimally tiny amounts of a specific substance onto a surface. Something like a fountain pen, only more delicate; or something like one of those oversize syringes for icing cakes, only not as interesting to the appetite. Imagine using up the contents of that finely-tuned instrument - and then throwing it out. Madness.
Well, that's exactly what happens to the vast majority of inkjet and laser toner cartridges. They're thrown straight into the bin. But that's not the end of them - not by a long shot. Cartridges are made from engineering grade polymers (high quality plastics, in other words) and can take 1,000 years to break down in landfill. While they're sitting there waiting to decompose, rain and other liquids wash the odd bit of toxic leachate into the ground.
The plastics are derived from hydrocarbons, but a fair amount of fossil fuel goes into their manufacture. Apparently, making a laser printer cartridge can consume 3.5 litres of oil, while an inkjet cartridge uses up about 90 millilitres.
In most cases, there is no need to throw them out. Your own inkjet and laser toner cartridges can be refilled (and if necessary remanufactured) at specialist cartridge refill outlets. A cartridge may be re-used between three and 15 times. When it starts to run out, remove from it your printer, and bring it for refilling within a week. Letting it run out completely can burn out the electronics and render it useless.
If getting them refilled is not convenient, then look out for collection points where cartridges may be recycled, and where the proceeds go to charity. Each rescued cartridge adds to a charity's revenue by anything from a few cents up to €14. If you can't find a collection point, then you can send your cartridges to Recycling Appeal (log on to www.recyclingappeal.ie, or phone 1800 933 616), which benefits a variety of charities, among them Childline, the Irish Hospice Foundation, Oxfam and the Dublin SPCA. You can also start your own recycling scheme through Recycling Appeal - so there's no excuse to put old cartridges in the bin.
Remanufactured and refilled cartridges are every bit as good as new ones, in fact, in the case of those containing toner, a "broken-in" device may give better results. So when you're buying from a retail outlet, go for the second-hand item. While you're saving the planet, you'll also be saving money - up to 60 per cent of the price of a new cartridge.