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Printer cartridges ‘could be taxed’

By Paperstone on January 12, 2007 in Ink Cartridges And Toners

A UK think-tank has called on the government to levy a “waste tax” on disposable items such as printer cartridges and other products to help alleviate Britain’s waste pile.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has claimed that the UK is being left behind in the race to become a zero waste society and that a new tax would force manufacturers to eliminate waste at the design stage of products.

Items such as printer cartridges, disposable cameras and other office supplies that are wrapped in hard to recycle products could come under a possible waste tax.

The report, A Zero Waste UK, wants to see a similar scheme adopted in the UK to the one currently operating in Germany where recycling has been boosted by adding a 1.5p levy to every carton thrown away.

But the IPPR wants to see waste eliminated at source with Nick Pearce, the director of IPPR, saying: “We have become an increasingly throw-away society, adding each year to the UK’s 300 million tonne rubbish mountain.”

Mr Pearce added that forcing manufacturers to pay for the waste they create with throw-away office products and packaging is only fair if the UK government is to bring in a “pay-as-you-throw” for household waste.

Many office products and supplies can already be recycled easily, with many printer cartridges able to be refilled at home or in the office.

Paperstone has a full range of environmentally friendly printer cartridges available online.

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