In my
recent cleanup, I found five used printer ink cartridges. I took them to my
local stationery story to leave them for recycling, but learned that their
distributor no longer recycles those cartridges. The clerk told me that the
student center at nearby Columbia University collected them for recycling.
When I went
there, there were the usual plastic and paper bins, but also bins for cell
phones, electronic equipment, batteries, and CFC lightbulbs—but no printer
cartridges. I asked the man at the information desk if he knew of any place on
campus that recycled those cartridges, and he said he thought an office in
another building did. But when I went there, there were the usual paper and
plastic bins, as well as one for batteries—but no ink cartridges. When I asked
some workers, it seemed that maybe they had once, but did no longer.
Rather than
bring home the cartridges and research possible other recycling centers, I
reluctantly dumped them in the trash. I’m sorry, Earth.
-------------------------------------
It’s
Slice of Life Tuesday over at Two
Writing Teachers. Check out this encouraging and
enthusiastic writing community and their slices of life every Tuesday. And add
one of your own.
I've found less and less people are recycling ink cartridges. I have a HUGE bag of them in my office. Now I just need to find a proper place to recycle them!
ReplyDeleteWe used to recycle them at our school, but the bin kept being mistaken for a trash bin and the person doing the recycling got tired of cleaning it out. I'm sure the Earth will forgive for this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is a trend. My school used to recycle them but no longer. Not sure why the huge shift but it seems harder and harder to recycle goods. It does sting a bit doesn't it? I feel like my generation has been trained to recycle, much like we've been trained to cut up all 6 pack plastic rings for the safety wildlife. When I can't do something I know I should it is frustrating. I hope you find a new place to recycle your cartridges!
ReplyDelete