Toner and ink cartridge are one of the most common office consumables. Whenever it was consumed, they are thrown in the trash, destined for landfills, which causes wastage and certain kind of environmental pollution.

Using remanufactured toner and ink cartridges offer clear advantages over new cartridges in cost and waste reduction.  Since most cartridge remanufacturers accept spent cartridges, reducing user-generated waste. Some OEM suppliers offer end-of-life recycling if you buy new cartridges from them.

The recycling is an important process in remanufactured toner and ink cartridges, which include collecting, sorting, cleansing, treating, and remanufacture of used cartridges.

A typical toner cartridge comprise of 40 percent plastic, 40 percent metal and smaller percentages of rubber, paper and foam. Those plastic (i.e. cases and toner) is a kind of polymers which take over 450 years to decompose. However, according to the Alameda County Waste Management Authority's study, approximately 97 percent of these combined components can be recycled or reused.

In waste management point of view, source reduction is at the top of the waste management hierarchy. Remanufacturing cartridges decreases the amount of plastic, steel, aluminum, and rubber sent to landfills. It also reduces the amount of toxic wastes disposal.  Actually a single new toner cartridge consumed approximate 2.8L of oil, which is 4 times of remanufactured cartridge (depending on type and condition). So remanufactured cartridges may save considerable amount of energy

Of course, remanufactured cartridges are normally cheaper than original one. It can commonly save around 15-30 percent or even more than new cartridges.

 TIPS ON BUYING TONER AND INKJET CARTRIDGES

• All vendors should have prior successful experience producing remanufactured toner cartridges for at least one (1) year at a rate of at least two hundred (200) cartridges per month. Samples may be required prior to bid award.

• The intent of buyers should be to purchase goods, equipment and services having the least environmental impact within the constraints of statutory purchasing requirements, departmental needs, availability, and sound economic considerations.

• Be aware of the maintenance contracts of printers, fax and copiers.

SOURCE : http://www.green.ca.gov/EPP/OfficeMach/toner.htm

Did you realize you can actually cut printing costs just by choosing another font? Even with everyone looking for new ways to save money, it's doubtful most people have considered the font they use for letters, reports, and notices, but you can actually save 31% on your ink cartridge costs just by picking the right font.

A printer research website recently put this notion to the test using two popular printers. The clear winner was Century Gothic, which returned 31% savings in both printers. For the average private user, printing approximately 25 pages per week, this will easily generate a net reduction of $20 in a year. A business-user, printing approximately 250 pages per week, could save $80. If your organization uses multiple printers, you can save hundreds of dollars per year doing nothing more than picking a more economical font.

Century Gothic is a modern font that comes standard with MS Windows. Surprisingly, it even beat Ecofont which was specifically designed with efficiency and cost in mind. For those who require a more "traditional" look, Times New Roman provides a good balance between style and savings.

The University of Wisconsin, has switched the default font on its e-mail system and all documents printing from Arial to Century Gothic. The university says the change sounds minor, but it will save money on printer ink when students print out e-mails in the new font. This university has 6500 enrolled students, the school the disbursement the approximately 100,000 US dollar for printing expenses, the school estimated every year will save 5000 US dollars to 10,000 US dollars every year for the school if using Century Gothic font.

The main concern on ink consumes of font is the line. Global well-known printer manufacturer printing ink researchers said, ink consumes for the font of "narrow" or the "tint" is less than the "bold" or the "deep color". Similarly, ink consumes for the font with decoration line on starting and ending position is less than the non-serif typeface.

The font with economize doesn't means let us feel comfortable on them. Although the line is slender, the width of word is big. Same article only needs a paper with the Arial font on printing, but the Century Gothic must use two pages.

The inventor of Century Gothic said, the single character consumed less in but needed to consume more papers, this is not a kind of environmental friendly. And also, he didn't agree with the research on the website, he said that the Century Gothic is only suitable for the title and special region. Regarding the entire documents, he still suggested to use Arial.

(Picture from: Microsoft Art Clip)

To reduce the printing expenditure not only by changing the font, but also duplex printing can occupied both sides of paper. Click on the page preview before the printing, to avoid the copyright line and useless content to occupy the space of paper. The Associated Press said that the most environmental friendly's way is nothing better than no longer use the printer.

Source: http://blog.printer.com/2009/04/printing-costs-does-font-choice-make-a-difference/

KleenicO: Water Works HD ( WWHD ) / KleenicOde / KleenicOil / KleenicOre

1. The products are non-hazardous, surfactant-based aqueous cleaner/degreaser that chemically cleans anything organic, such as grease, oil, dust, grime, dirt and lint that normally found on concrete, stones, bricks, tiles, masonry, glass, aluminium, aluminium Alloy, Stainless Steel, polymers, metallic and fibreglass surfaces.
2. The products are readily biodegradable, low VOC, water soluble and environmental health and safe for workers. It replaces hazardous cleaning solvent.
3. They are designed for use with spray, wipe, soak, dip immersion tank, ultrasonic, pressure washer and pressure spray.

WWHD	Special Industrial Cleaning / Degreasing Process
KleenicOde	Printing & Manufacturing Industry
KleenicOil	Building Services Maintenance & Cleaning
KleenicOre	Building Maintenance & Cleaning

HKGPC members:
www.hkgpc.org/html/chi/member.aspx

If you have any feedbacks / suggestions on our green initiatives, please feel free to write to info@greencouncil.org