While the world stands still and waits for a leader, one printer company is taking the bull by the horns. After years of sitting back and watching consumers discard their used products in the trash one manufacturer has made a statement.  Lexmark has implemented a plan of action that takes recycling to a new level.

In celebration of Earth Day, today Lexmark released the findings of a Life Cycle Assessment that looked into the environmental impact of discarded toner cartridges. Finding that sending a used toner cartridge back to Lexmark for recycling, as opposed to discarding it in the trash, reduces the overall carbon footprint of those toner cartridges by up to 60 percent.

Not only does discarding old printer cartridges in the trash create an astoundingly large landfill with toxic waste, but did you know that it takes 2.5 quarts of oil to produce the petroleum product that creates the plastic shell of a printer cartridge. By reducing the amount of waste that goes into the landfill and reusing the old shells, you can reduce the amount of oil that is consumed day-after-day.

Toner Cartridge Recycling made easy

Lexmark runs free collection programs for its ink and toner cartridges. On Lexmark’s website, you can request a prepaid return envelope for printer cartridges or print a return label for multiple toner cartridges (remember to save the box it came in) to send them back to Lexmark for recycling. Lexmark pledges that 100% of the printer cartridges it collects are either reused or remanufactured for recycling.

Another break in Lexmark’s corporate policy, while being one of the largest manufacturer’s of printers and printer cartridges, Lexmark urges customers to print less. “They have made it a priority to train its customers on what steps they can take to implement responsible printing practices, such as printing less and recycling, to reduce the negative impact to the environment,” said Marty Canning, Lexmark vice president and president of its Printing Solutions and Services section. They suggest customers print only what they need, use double-sided prints as much as possible, and employ digital document processes and paper-less features such as scan-to-email to share documents. The company also recommends purchasing the highest-yield printer cartridges, which helps cut costs and reduce waste.

Another benefit of recycling toner cartridges is the cost advantage. Typically a recycled toner cartridge costs less to manufacture and that savings is passed on to the consumer. So the next time your in the market for a printer cartridge, Check with your local supplier and try and take advantage of going green. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for it when their not too busy texting.

While many of us are facing tough cut backs, we fail to remember the most important people in our children’s lives. Often overlooked, under paid and certainly unappreciated is your child’s teacher. They don’t complain unless little Johnny has been bad. Never revealing budget restraints or loss of financial support. We only care when our child tends to make us look like were not doing our job as a parent.

Teacher Appreciation Week is easy, when times are good: The java mug. The gift certificate. And of course, the apple.

But when times are bad, it is much more harder and sometimes the best way to say, “Thanks for all you’ve done for my child” is with… a card or even better and much more appreciated is a toner cartridge, or maybe some dustless chalk.

Please send a Toner Cartridge to School

Budget cuts have hit one Chesapeake elementary school hard enough that for teacher appreciation week this week, the Parent Teacher Association sent home a note saying teachers had asked parents to please give them the gift of school supplies. The wish lists included printer cartridges, toner cartridges, Ziploc bags, dry-erase markers, and toys for recess.

“That does look a little sad,” said Kim Parker, vice president of the Western Branch Intermediate PTA. “But most of us room mothers, we’re still planning to do something nice for the teacher themselves, too.”

During these difficult times, little things often make a big difference. When it comes to our children there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do. But the feeling of helplessness that these teachers must feel when our school system seems to tie their hands with budget cuts is heart breaking. The next time you chat with your child’s teacher please ask them if there is anything that you a interested parent could provide for his or her class.

You may want to let the teacher and some of the parents know that there are programs out there that provides an empty cartridge collection program that allows schools to participate in fundraisers. And if saving money on printer cartridges or toner cartridges is an issue in your child’s classroom then the teacher should take some time to make a class project using recycled printer cartridges. Recycled printer cartridges cost 50% less than retail and helps to save the environment.