Environmental Information

Waste is an environmental and economic problem, which affects us all, is caused by us all and can be solved by us all. The success of recycling and waste reduction initiatives is one area where waste can be significantly reduced.

The Facts

• Over 30 million inkjet cartridges are dumped each year in the UK alone.
• Worldwide this figure increases to over 375 million.
• Statistics reveal that only 5% of all empty inkjet cartridges are currently being recycled.
• More and more inkjet cartridges than ever are being thrown away each year. E-mail has increased the amount of paper used in offices by almost 40%.
• Plastics used in inkjet cartridges can take over 10 centuries (1000 years!) to decompose.
• 90ml of oil is used to produce each inkjet cartridge.
• In the last six months alone, inkjet cartridge recycling has saved more than 50 million litres of oil. This is more oil than what was tragically spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989.
• Carbon-based gas is a major cause of global warming. Inkjet cartridge recycling helps reduce carbon emissions as well as to conserve resources and reduce waste.
• Empty inkjet cartridges are the most valuable post-consumer item.