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‘More work needed’ on recycling printer cartridges

By Paperstone on August 10, 2007 in Ink Cartridges And Toners

Both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and remanufacturers could do more with their programme for recycling printer cartridges, according to a new study.

InfoTrends spoke with both OEMs and remanufacturers in the US and Europe supplies industry about their programmes and found that 80 per cent of remanufactured toner printer cartridges and 86 per cent of inkjet cartridges are thrown away, the Recycler reports.

This is because remanufacturers have a "strong preference" for what are known as "virgin empties" – printer cartridges which have not previously been remanufactured, the report claims.

However, it also found that third-party supplies companies were able to cut down on the overall demand for new printer cartridges by an average of around 20 per cent.

"OEM and third-party supplies vendors both have compelling stories regarding how their efforts reduce the impact of supply cartridges on the environment," commented John Shane, a director at InfoTrends, according to the news provider.

"At the same time, both groups can also be faulted for deficiencies in their programs. Overall, however, the imaging supplies industry can claim to be effectively reducing the impact of cartridges on the environment."

A letter from HP recently published in TechWorld magazine claimed that recycling printer cartridges had as many environmental benefits as remanufacturing them.

At Paperstone we can supply your firm with a wide selection of printer supplies.

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