Xerox revamps supplies recycling program
Imaging technology giant Xerox is teaming up with recycler Close the Loop to offer free shipping for businesses that collect boxes of its used printer cartridges. The company will use those returned cartridges to recover components and materials that can be used in new printer cartridges and other products.
Here's how it works: Have employees toss spent supplies into a collection box that can be ordered from Xerox web site. Print a free-of-charge shipping label. Send the box to Close the Loop. Done. Repeat.
The program launched this week in the United States; it is a takeoff of the Eco Box company that the company uses in Europe. The company is touting the new initiative as an extension to its Green World Alliance program, launched way back in 1999 before the turn of the century. So far, the company has helped divert more than 143 million pounds of cartridges, bottles and waste toner from landfills, according to a statement from Patricia Calkins, the company's vice president of sustainability, environment, health & safety.
Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention that other major printing technology vendors have recycling programs of their own. Here are some links to some of those programs, in case you want to read about your options:
- HP Planet Partners, which offers several alternatives for those looking to recycle cartridges
- Lexmark cartridge recycling program information
- Epson recycling frequently asked questions
- Canon's Recycling Green cartridge and supply collection effort
- Brother's collection and reuse strategy
- Samsung Electronics service, in conjunction with U.S. Postal Service
I actually spoke with a company yesterday, Preton, that has technology that helps you cut back on the amount of toner and ink that you and your employees use for print jobs in the first place. More on that in a separate post. Meanwhile, does your company have a formal strategy to handle responsible disposal of imaging supplies?