110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - magazine - Index

ABODE I BY ANDREA STUART I PHOTOS BY RUSSELL BYRNE
ECO-CENTRISM
AT ITS BEST
People are finding unique ways to help the environment
every day. From buying electric cars to implementing
recycling programs, people are taking
proactive steps to do their part in reducing waste.
In 2005 Steve Vallerga and his wife, Andrea,
opened Cartridge World in Brentwood. Joining the
environmentally contentious world leader for printer
cartridge remanufacturing and refilling, second only
to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), the
Vallergas have made quite an impression.
“People often don’t realize the impact that office
supply waste has on the environment,” says Steve.
Which is why he offers his philosophy, which is
based on the three Rs: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.
Reuse: Steve advises doing as Cartridge World
does by reusing paper as much as possible for test
prints and other less important jobs. Out of ink?
Remanufacture or refill the cartridge instead of
throwing it away. Cartridge World alone has over
150 inks and toners.
“More than 350 million cartridges are discarded
into our landfills annually. That number rises about
12-percent each year. A remanufactured cartridge
saves nearly 3 1 /2 pounds of solid waste from being
deposited in landfills. Plus, it takes approximately
one gallon of oil to manufacture just one new laser
cartridge,” says Steve.
Reduce: Steve advises that people consider printing
only what is necessary.
50 www.110mag.com September/October 2008
IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF
OIL TO MANUFACTURE JUST ONE NEW
LASER CARTRIDGE!
“Try saving most emails and correspondence to
a computer or backup drive. This will save your ink
and your paper,” he suggests.
Recycle: Recycle as many used office supplies,
including printer/laser cartridges, as possible. How,
you ask?
When it comes to your printer cartridges the best
option is to visit a cartridge remanufacturer and
refiller like Cartridge World. Why?
You may be familiar with the convenient selfmailers
that some recycling companies send out.
However, according to an article by Tricia Judge of
International Imaging Technology Council (Int’l
ITC), Exposing the Fraud: Recycling Programs Gone
Wrong, what you may not know is that there are
groups of unscrupulous third-party recycling
companies that are sending the old cartridges you
return to villages in third-world countries, such as
Guiyu, China, where the villagers scavenge as much
of the remaining toner as possible, collect it, and
resell it as aftermarket toner. The plastic carcasses
are then burned or discarded along riverbanks;
rendering the air and water toxic. Therefore, the
only way to ensure your cartridges will truly be recycled
is to use a reputable company.
The good news is the fad of refilling and recycling
cartridges is catching on as more reputable businesses
now offer these services. Steve encourages
everyone to refill their cartridges wherever they can
because he believes that it’s about education and
accessibility. And, if you have problems, you can
take your cartridge to Cartridge World where they
offer replacements if your cartridge is damaged.
“What’s amazing is that other companies that
offer cartridge refills continue to refer their
customers to Cartridge World for more comprehensive
services such as servicing problematic
cartridges,” Steve comments.
When it comes down to it, even the most
nominal efforts make the biggest difference.
Steve perpetuates the green movement by offering
an education discount to students, faculty,
and teachers. Furthermore, he organizes a
school recycling program in which Cartridge
World pays local schools for collecting empty
cartridges from their students. It is Steve’s way
of teaching the kids that recycling pays.
So, the next time your ink starts fading, recite
the mantra of the Three Rs: Reuse, Reduce, and
Recycle. And remember, the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act of 1975 says that no warranty can be
voided from general maintenance done on your
cartridges, so refill on!
°
For more great tips or advice contact Steve Vallerga
at Cartridge World by calling 925-240-7614, email
CWbrentwood@sbcglobal.net, or visit 8610 Brent -
wood Boulevard, Suite B in Brentwood.