Waste Prevention World

"At work" articles

• Recharge printer toner cartridges
• State offers free service for firms "trading trash"
• Waste prevention at work

Recharge printer toner cartridges

Goal: To encourage readers to reuse toner cartridges.

Residents and businesses with laser printers and/or photocopiers know the cost of keeping these machines going can sometimes put a crimp in the budget. Savvy individuals -- and that could include you -- should consider a way to save money and help conserve natural resources. The process is simple: "recharge" the plastic toner cartridges in them.

Those with other printers, and typewriter owners, can save too by "reloading" their ribbon casings.

The more one prints, copies or types, the quicker the toner or ribbon ink is depleted. The plastic containers or casings, however, are reusable. There is no need to get new containers or casings. Reusing -- instead of replacing them -- is typically very cost-effective. On top of that, recharging and reloading is a simple act of saving the earth's resources.

About half the cost of a new cartridge (or about $60 out of $120) can be saved by refilling an existing cartridge with toner instead of throwing it out and replacing it. In addition, some companies maintain that their remanufactured cartridges are superior to the originals. That's because, on the first recharge, they'll replace (for an extra fee, but for less than a new cartridge costs) the drums and rollers with what they consider better components. The results should be guaranteed.

There are two ways to recharge empty cartridges, and it's a good idea to check on a company's procedures. The "drill and fill" method is cheaper, but can cause problems. A hole is drilled in the cartridge, toner is added, and the hole resealed. Spillage and other damage can result.

The preferred way of recharging is to disassemble and inspect the cartridge, clean and lubricate it, then refill, reassemble and test. According to the American Cartridge Recycling Association, this should NOT result in warranties being voided by printer and copier companies.

Local companies willing to recharge also can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Computers-Supplies & Parts."

(This article reprinted -- with modifications -- with permission from the City of Davis.)

State offers free service for firms "trading trash"

Goal: To provide readers information on CALMAX.

The state of California is providing a free service designed to help citizens and businesses trade their discards -- things that might otherwise end up as "trash."

Why would state government care about your junk? It just so happens there are big dollar savings, and tangible environmental benefits, to promoting trades of discards/trash.

The service works like the classified ads in newspapers and helps people find markets or reusers for materials that were previously discarded. It also helps others find free or inexpensive materials, products, and feedstocks for their business or organizations such as schools or non-profit organizations. Ultimately, these exchanges of items that were once considered garbage promotes not only resource conservation, but a reduction in solid waste that needs to be disposed.

Dubbed CALMAX, for California Materials Exchange, the program features a Materials Listings Catalog. Any business, agency or individual can list in the catalog -- at no cost -- any nonhazardous surplus or otherwise "nonuseful" material that would be destined for the landfill. Anyone interested in any of the materials listed can call the contact person shown in the ad and work out arrangements for acquiring the material. Likewise, anyone who needs or wants any kind of material also can list in the catalog specifically what is being sought. Exchanges, purchases or donations are again freely negotiated and agreed upon between the interested parties. Catalogs are available at no charge.

All the listings in the "available" and "wanted" sections are organized into 15 materials categories, including: Construction, Containers, Electronic, Glass, Metal, Plastic, and Wood. Some materials recently made available include: fluorescent light fixtures, used bricks, buckets, champagne bins, a copier, electric bulbs, hay, horse manure, plastic pellets, used cassette tapes, fabric and leather scraps, clay pottery, 3-ring binders, ink, and sales counters. Wanted items listed were just as diverse: fencing, bleachers, construction and demolition waste, boxes, mosaic tiles, drums, furnishings, an "unusually old water heater," an electrical generator, scrap electronics, paint, flowers for drying, paper, rope, art supplies, lumber, magnets, keys, mannequins and much, much more.

If you are not on the CALMAX mailing list, you're probably losing money. Since 1991, CALMAX saved California businesses over $1.5 million dollars and diverted over 400,000 tons of assorted materials from landfills.

Maybe you don't have time to thumb through the quarterly catalog, which could be a great read with your morning coffee. If not, try CALMAX On-Line . Want to put a free ad in the CALMAX catalog, get on the mailing list or learn more? Call the California Integrated Waste Management Board at (916) 341-6603 or write the board at 1001 I Street, PO Box 4025, Sacramento, CA 95812-4025.

(Article adapted from articles from the City of Davis & CIWMB.)

Waste prevention at work

Goal: To encourage readers to implement waste prevention at work.

If every California home followed some waste prevention techniques, the state would still not meet its goal of reducing waste by 50 percent by the year 2000.

That's because 61 percent of the state's 45 million annual tons of waste is produced by businesses. If California is going to respond to the challenge of the state's waste reduction targets, then lots of creative thinking and waste reduction is going to have to be done while on the job.

Luckily, California's entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in innovative programs instituted at a variety of different types of commercial and industrial enterprises. Firms like Mag Instrument, Inc., producer of the Mag-lite flashlight since 1979, have reduced the amount of packaging in its products and reuses packaging received from suppliers.

All corrugated cardboard is baled and recycled, as is the computer paper. They also close the loop by purchasing recycled-content paper products and using recycled products in manufacturing their flashlights.

One of the best ways to understand the benefits of waste prevention is through a little research. In almost every field, there are a few firms that have active waste prevention efforts. Your business may realize economic savings or public relations gains through a new waste prevention program.

One option is to get your company to adopt an environmental policy reflecting how the firm sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors and the people it employs. Today, more companies are adopting environmental policies. A typical goal is zero waste.

Some of the things to look for when evaluating the benefits of waste prevention are the waste disposal costs you avoid by reducing the company waste stream; the reduction in energy and water utility costs; the reduction in raw materials; the reduction in storage costs; and the reduction in printing and postage costs.

The most effective way to communicate the value of waste prevention is person-to-person communication. Seek volunteers in each work area who are willing to be trained "waste reduction pros." These pros can become friendly sources of waste prevention information and provide ongoing feedback. Train new employees. Let them know they are expected to use resources carefully and fully participate in waste reduction programs. Finally, use all-employee gatherings to promote waste prevention. Show what is being done and what areas need improvement. Document and verify waste reduced and money saved.

For example, Eat Your Vegetables restaurants in Sacramento are now diverting 88% of their waste. The owner chopped his annual waste bill from $4,200 to just $400. These numbers can be useful in showing the environmental and economic benefits of waste prevention.

The first step in a company wide waste prevention campaign is a waste audit or waste assessment. It helps you understand the waste stream and the major areas that need attention. A good strategy is to pick one area of waste where you can reduce, donate, reuse, recycle or compost. Do one thing at a time and use common sense. The bottom line: follow up and follow through!

After implementing thorough waste prevention techniques, there will typically still be some material that can be recycled. Small businesses often do not generate enough of these recyclables to attract hauling services. But forward-looking entrepreneurs have teamed up with neighbors to form co-ops. Through such partnerships, small businesses may be able to save money by sharing equipment such as balers, sharing space for collection and loading of materials, and collectively generating enough recyclables to make collection profitable for both the hauler and the small business. By sharing these expenses, small businesses are preventing waste while they are recycling. For more help in establishing a program to keep your profits from going out with the trash, [insert local information] or call the California Integrated Waste Management Board's Business Assistance Section at (916) 341-6530  or the Waste Prevention Info Exchange at (916) 341-6363.

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Last updated: April 21, 2008