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Recycling program benefits birds
HIBBING — Recycling an empty ink cartridge could help
raise money to ensure the health of raptors and conserve natural resources.
Northwoods Ford-Lincoln-Mercury has joined in on this beneficial cause
giving area residents and businesses an opportunity to recycle.
“It was a
good project to become involved in,” said Carol Roche of Northwoods Ford, who
said the dealership decided to get involved after reading about the project in
the Department of Natural Resources publication, Minnesota Volunteer Magazine.
The project encourages individuals and organizations to collect used
cartridges and give them to The Raptor Center (TRC) of the University of
Minnesota, or send them to GreenFund Network (GFN) for recycling. TRC then
receives a contribution for each cartridge.
Northwoods Ford has postage free
envelopes available at the dealership for mailing the disposable ink jet printer
cartridges.
“It keeps ink cartridges out of the landfill,” said Roche. “It
also helps with recuperation and release of injured birds. It’s a win-win
situation.”
Richard Stanley, a volunteer at TRC, said this project, which
helps raise money for the center while having a positive effect on the
environment, started about a year and a half ago.
The money goes to the
center which specializes in the repair, rehabilitation, medical care and
conservation of raptors including eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. TRC treats
approximately 800 birds a year and provides training in raptor medicine and
surgery for veterinarians around the world. The majority of its funding comes
from private donations.
Since the inception of the recycling program in the
state there has been a total of $23,000 raised for TRC and close to two tons of
plastic material recycled.
“We are facilitating the process of people
recycling their inkjets, which makes them feel good,” he said, noting that they
make it easy for people to recycle their cartridges.
TRC has about 22
employees and more than 300 volunteers like Stanley, who donate their time to
this worthy cause.
“I’ve got one of the best retirement jobs that anyone can
have and I’m having fun doing good things for the environment and helping it to
prosper,” he said.
Stanley said that it is great to see businesses like
Northwoods Ford get involved in this cause.
“I think this is very good
citizenship and public relations by the auto dealer,” he said. “I think people
will think this is a wonderful thing to do.”
Even if an individual only
sends in two cartridges a year, Stanley said every effort helps.
“Every
person who does this makes me feel good about it,” he said. “People are
volunteering because they love raptors or they want to recycle or both. They are
volunteering to undertake the program.”
Roche said that it is a good
opportunity for the community to bring in cartridges rather than having them end
up in landfills.
“Anything that would help the environment,” said Roche.
“It’s our duty to worry about it. We shouldn’t take advantage of it. We should
do what we can to save it.”
Locally, envelopes may be picked up at
Northwoods Ford-Lincoln-Mercury from Carol or Mary Beth.
“They can come in
and pick up individual envelopes and mail the cartridges from home or drop off
their cartridges here and we’ll take care of them,” said Roche.
For more
information about the program, call the hotline at 612-624-6945 or email trcink@umn.edU.
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