ECO-PRENEURING

It pays to recycle. Just ask the world’s top ink refilling retailer in a $55 billion industry.

By Dan Scheerer

This data just proves the point that a new and better way is needed to not only keep cartridge replacement costs down, but perhaps more importantly, to protect the future of our environment. Cartridge refilling is a pro-active solution to waste reduction and a winner of an option for consumers, entrepreneurs and the environment.

The refill market offers all consumers – small businesses, home-based businesses and individuals – the cost savings long sought after, with quality intact.

Refill retailers, in particular Cartridge World, one of the world’s fastest growing franchises, have developed technology that offers the same print quality as a printer’s original cartridge, at about half the cost of a new cartridge. Premium inks have the same chemical and physical properties as original cartridge inks and time-wise, refilling takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The savings continues, as cartridges can typically be refilled a half-dozen or more times, depending on the cartridge and how well it has been maintained.

CARTRIDGE WORLD
AT-A-GLANCE

Cartridge World New England was founded in 2004 with headquarters in Norwell, MA. In servicing this market, Cartridge World New England assists individual franchisees in opening new locations all across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The parent company, Cartridge World, was founded in South Australia in 1991. In addition to providing refill services, Cartridge World’s more than 1000 locations worldwide deal in compatible and original manufacturer cartridges for inkjet printers, laser printers, fax machines and photocopiers as well as additional supplies for fax machines and copiers. For more information, contact Dan Scheerer at 167 Washington Street, Norwell, MA, 781-878-6003 or visit www.cartridgeworldusa.com.

So, you see the “value” attached to the cartridge refill industry is multi-fold, with the need for this cost-effective and environmentally-sound option constantly growing.
Advances in technology have made our world more efficient, providing small business owners the capabilities to run their offices with the same products previously available only to large companies, thereby creating a market for electronic products that has and will continue to increase by leaps and bounds. That growth will only further produce an urgent need to reduce, reuse and recycle.

It has been well documented that the fastest growing segment of our waste cycle comes from what is commonly referred to as “e-waste” – electronic goods, including printers containing non-biodegradable plastics that can pose health hazards for generations to come. While the intentions of those who invented these miracles of technology had the greater good in mind, the proliferation of disposable office equipment has generated a waste stream issue that will likely haunt generations to come.

Printer cartridge refills provide one solution to this problem, and educated consumers hold the key to ensuring this solution pays off. While many people understand and recognize the need to recycle paper, aluminum and plastic and now shop for products that contain recycled materials, the word needs to get out loud and clear that there is also a safe and inexpensive way to re-use their old inkjet or laser printer cartridges.

Every cartridge saved from a landfill makes a difference – you can help make that difference by becoming part of a rapidly growing industry that has the wellbeing of future generations in mind.