Neighbours in business recycle 25,000 ink cartridges
The
Sutton Coldfield branch of the Smart Cartridge franchise has managed to
recycle and reuse 25,000 ink cartridges since the company was launched
in November 2005 and has increased its business-to-business stationery
supplies stock to 20,000 items.The branch owners are neighbours Graham
Jones and Stewart Ellis who decided to go into business together
because of their shared interest in helping the environment and
sport.Graham said: “We share a common awareness of our respective
sports and different skills and this has carried on in our working
relationship. We both want the same goal for the business and recognise
that our different personalities and skills is a benefit that can only
help us achieve this.
Smart Cartridge helps businesses and
domestic clients with the changes to the Landfill Directive Laws. The
legislation requires non-hazardous waste to undergo treatment before
disposal in order to help fight the environmental issues surrounding
landfill sites.Stewart explains: “More than 30 million inkjet
cartridges are dumped each year in the UK alone, which is shocking when
you consider the plastic used in a typical cartridge is made of
engineering grade polymers that take at least 1000 years to
decompose.”We proactively encourage local home users, businesses,
schools, offices, clubs, the healthcare sector and other organisations
to recycle and re-use their empty cartridges. We also offer branded
recycling bins, which organisations throughout the country can use to
collect empty cartridges. The cartridges are remanufactured and
returned the same day, during which time they have been fully cleaned,
remanufactured and tested to guarantee 100 per cent printing quality –
all at no extra charge.”This is something that businesses should be
taking very seriously as it means the onus is on them to make sure
their waste is dealt in the proper environmental manner or they will be
fined as per the new legislation.”The company was established in 2001
in Edinburgh and now has 60 franchised outlets worldwide. Smart
Cartridge focuses on ink cartridge refills and laser cartridge
remanufacture and over the past few years has expanded its range of
products to include stationery, specialist papers and own brand
compatible cartridges.