Achieving
Sustainability at the
Waste
Reduction Practices:
Implementation
of a Used Inkjet and Laser Cartridge Collection, Reuse and Recycling Program
(A Proposal
for an Improved USM Recycles Program)
Prepared by
Christina Perry, Amanda Loomis, & Sarah
DePriest
In Partial Fulfillment of ESP 475: Senior Seminar- Environmental Sustainability
Dr. Travis Wagner
May 2006
Table of Contents:
Executive Summary .
Project Definition .
Description .
Relationship to Sustainability ....
Relationship to Existing USM Program
Methodology- Quantifying the waste and potential revenue at USM...
Findings
Recycling Partner Comparison and Recommendation ..
Survey Results
USM Offices ..
USM Students
Summary of Findings-Overall Benefits .
Project Implementation
Implementation Strategy
Advertising
Cartridge Collection ...
Cartridge Sorting
Cartridge Mailing
Budget-Keeping and Program Monitoring .
Summary of Findings-Overall Costs ..
Project Monitoring and Budget-Keeping
Future Opportunities and Recommendations
Conclusion
References .
Appendices
Appendix I ..
Appendix II .
Appendix III
Appendix IV
Appendix V .
Appendix VI .
Appendix VII
Executive Summary
Brief Description:
It is found that approximately 10%
of all inkjet and laser cartridges used in the
This study takes a closer look into the USM Recycles program to determine a way to better meet the needs of the students and employees inkjet and laser cartridge collection on the USM campuses. The collection of inkjet and laser cartridges can be collected and returned to a company for profit and also the cartridges from ending up in a landfill.
Relationship to Sustainability:
Even
though USM only buys a small percentage of total inkjet and laser cartridges
used in the
Relationship to Existing USM Program:
Since such a large percentage of
used inkjet and laser cartridges end up in the garbage after use on the USM
campuses it only makes since that there is a missing link in the relationship
between USM Recycles and the employees of USM. The results from a survey that was
sent out to all administrative assistants on the Gorham and
Summary of Benefits:
Assuming that 100 offices participate in the recycling program, it is estimated that between $800 and $6,300 per year for the collection of Inkjet cartridges would be profited. The estimate for laser cartridge collection could be between $1,310 and $12,300 profit per year.
With the student population of 11,000 students, it would be estimated that between $22,700 and $139,000 per year would be profited from the collection of inkjet cartridges. As for the collection of laser cartridges it would be estimated between $6,861 and $91,000 per year would be profited.
Summary of Costs:
It is expected
that this program would pay for its self. The position would be filled by a
Federal Work Study Student; the amount of work required per week would be 10
hours with the pay of $10.00 per hour. Total pay for this position would be
$5,200 per year. The program would have potential revenue of $31,000 per year
before paying the work study student; giving total revenue of $25,800 per year.
Implementation Summary:
Implementation of
the improvements to the existing USM recycles program will include several
phases which include advertising, cartridge collection, sorting, mailing, budget-
keeping and program monitoring. It is very important that advertising is
effective to get the greatest benefit from the program.
Project Definition
Detailed Description:
Various
organizations, from inkjet and laser cartridge manufacturers to charity-groups,
remanufacture and recycle used inkjet and laser cartridges and make a profit
while also preserving the environment. Many of these organizations function as
fundraising opportunities, rewarding individuals, schools, and businesses with
money for each used inkjet or laser cartridge sent to them for remanufacture or
recycling. Through this practice, not only are profits made by participants,
but through their participation in such programs, public awareness of waste
management activities is raised. In addition, many of these programs impose no
cost to participate and also provide free shipping and advertising. A program
to collect used inkjet and laser cartridges is herein identified as an
opportunity for the
Inkjet and laser cartridges are typically recycled at a rate of approximately 10% (U.S. EPA 2002, web). Thus, it was predicted that disposal at this rate is typical on the USM campus. In order to encourage environmental stewardship through improved waste management activities, this study was prepared as an analysis of current USM Portland and Gorham campus inkjet and laser cartridge waste management practices; and is accompanied by recommendations for improvement in order to achieve a more sustainable campus. This study 1) quantified the potential number and type of inkjet and laser cartridges used within the office (Appendix I) and student (Appendix II) sectors; 2) determined the current waste management practices undertaken by these sectors in order to i) estimate the potential profit to be made from this component of USM waste, and ii) assess the sustainability of the current inkjet and laser cartridge waste disposal practices; and 3) compared various potential recycling partners (Appendix III) in terms of the sustainability of their practices in an effort to provide a recommendation to the University.
While there is
currently an inkjet and laser cartridge waste collection program aimed at USM
offices which is overseen by USM Recycles, the effectiveness of this program is
in question (See USM Recycles questionnaire and responses, Appendix IV). In an
effort to improve sustainability practices at the
The University of
Southern Maines Portland, Gorham and Lewiston-Auburn campuses was home to over
11,000 students, 1,500 employees, and over 100 offices, departments and
libraries in 2004 (University of Southern Maine, Web). The primary sources of used
inkjet and laser cartridges that are immediately viable for a campus collection
program through USM Recycles (which is located on the
Relationship to Sustainability:
[Remanufacturing (reusing) and recycling spent (used) ink cartridges] is just the type of innovative solution to environmental issues that EPA wants to encourage. [Remanufacturing and recycling] project[s] represent a sustainable result, enhancing economic and community values while protecting the environment
(U.S.
EPA 2002, web. Emphasis added)."
In 2001, over 250 million ink jet
cartridges ended up in North American landfills (U.S. EPA 2002, web). In 2002,
the EPA estimated that less than 10% of the inkjet cartridges in use in the
The components that make up the cartridges include plastic cases containing ink, a pump, filters, internal circuitry, and print heads (nozzles) (U.S. E.P.A. 1997, web). Plastic, a product made primarily of petroleum and natural gas, both nonrenewable resources, is the primary component in inkjet and laser cartridges.
EPA believes that, consistent with the Agency's waste management hierarchy, which promotes waste prevention and recycling, ink jet cartridges should be designed to be refillable and/or recyclable, rather than disposable (U.S. E.P.A. 1997, web).
Ink jet cartridges weigh approximately 1.40 ounces (U.S. E.P.A. 1997, web). Plastic is virtually non-degradable, and thus persists in landfills (CIWMB 2003, 1). Not only does this persistence in landfills present an ethical dilemma in terms of intergenerational equity (our grandchildren dealing with the waste we generate today), but immediate impacts to human health exists as residual ink can leach out of used cartridges and end up in groundwater underneath landfills (U.S. EPA 2002, web).
Solvent-based inks, common to inkjet applications, potentially pose various health, safety, and environmental impacts (PMAI 2004, 1). While pigments, comprising up to 10% of the weight of the typical ink component of a cartridge, contain chemicals (carbon black, a carcinogen) and heavy metals (such as barium, lead, copper and/or chromium) that pose potential environmental and human health threats (PMAI 2004, 1) through the media of air, land, and water as cartridges are incinerated, land filled, and even recycled; it is not the colorant that poses the biggest potential threat. The greatest component of inkjet ink is typically solvent, which can compose up to 95% of the weight of the ink (PMAI 2004, 1). Even though Material Safety Data Sheets (Appendix V) may not list hazardous compounds, studies of toner headspace emissions indicate ethylbenzene, xylenes and styrene are emitted from petroleum-based inks and toners. Wolkoff, P., Wilkins, C.K. et. Al 1993, web). Solvents are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can also be designated Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), substances regulated under the Clean Air Act (PMAI 2004, 1). VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone (PMAI 2004, 1). According to the EPA, ground-level ozone is an air pollutant that causes human health problems, and damages crops and other vegetation (U.S. EPA 2006, web). Many remanufactured cartridges use soy-based (vs. petroleum-based) inks and thus mitigate many of these potential impacts to current and future generations (Green California 2006, Office Machines). By sending USMs used inkjet and laser cartridges for remanufacture and recycling, USM contributes to local and global sustainability by reducing risks posed by the increased use of new petroleum-based ink-containing cartridges.
Reducing wastes, costs,
human health and environmental risks go hand-in-hand. Waste prevention includes practices of designing,
manufacturing, purchasing, or using materials in ways that reduce the amount or
toxicity of trash created (U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web). Reusing items is another
means of source reduction because it delays or avoids that item's entry in the
waste collection and disposal system (U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web).
Source reduction is at the top of the waste management hierarchy. It includes remanufacture and reuse of products. Source reduction activities reduce the amount or toxicity of wastes before they enter the municipal solid waste management system Remanufacturing cartridges decreases the amount of plastic, steel, aluminum, and rubber sent to landfills and burned in incinerators. Additionally, a considerable amount of energy is saved by remanufacturing. For example, approximately three quarts of oil are consumed in the production of a single new toner cartridge. A used cartridge can be remanufactured up to four times, depending on type and condition, thereby compounding the environmental benefits (Green California 2006, Office Machines).
Source reduction,
including reuse, helps to reduce the costs of waste handling and disposal,
because it avoids those costs associated with recycling, municipal composting, land
filling, and combustion (U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web). Reducing the reliance on such
disposal practices conserves resources and reduces pollution, including
greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming (U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web).
Overall, an effective inkjet and
laser cartridge recycling program on the USM campus will achieve the following
components of sustainability:
· Reduce the need for natural resources to manufacture virgin cartridges (CIWMB 2003, 1; U.S. E.P.A 2002, web; U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web).
o Reduce political impacts of petroleum use
· Reduce energy needs for manufacture of new cartridge (U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web)
·
Reduce the amount of waste being land filled/incinerated (The recovery and reuse of toner cartridges diverts
millions of cubic feet of material from landfills. 9Green California
2006, Office Machines))
o Reduce costs associated with waste disposal (CIWMB 2003, 1; U.S. E.P.A. 2006, web).
· Reduce land area needed for waste (CIWMB 2003, 1)
· Reduce intergenerational inequity
· Reduce the amount of ink leaching into groundwater (U.S. E.P.A 2002, web)
o Reduce trans-political-boundary inequity
· Reduce human health and environmental risk
· With a fundraising program, generate revenue in the local economy vs. incur waste disposal expenses; and
· As remanufactured cartridges generally cost less than new ones (CIWMB 2003, 1), the program saves money for people who buy USMs old
(remanufactured)
cartridges; and contributes to economic
Sustainability.
Relationship to Existing USM Program:
Currently on the
1. The IRN was chosen based on convenience for USM Recycles (vs. sustainability practices), as there is an existing partnership between the two organizations for the recycling of various types of wastes generated at USM;
2. The current partnership with the IRN is being reconsidered due to:
a. The age of the arrangement between USM Recycles and IRN, and
b. Changes in the list of Acceptable Cartridges that the IRN will take;
3. The number of USM offices that participate in USM Recycles has not been adequately quantified, as the offices that do recycle do so through different means (e.g. return HP cartridges to HP, participate in fundraiser etc.);
4. The logistics of the current office cartridge collection program consists of the participating office putting the used cartridge into the packaging that the new cartridge came in, taping up the package and sending it to USM Recycles via intercampus mail;
5. The current office cartridge recycling program collects approximately 200-300 cartridges per year, and
a. the IRN pays between $0.50 and $3.00 for each cartridge that can be refilled, but
b. approximately 1/3 of the cartridges sent cannot be refilled for various reasons and are thus recycled by the IRN with no payout to USM Recycles, and
c. The program currently has an annual revenue of approximately $500;
6. Problems with the current program include
a. lack of an adequate educational program,
b. lack of staff for cartridge collection,
c. lack of ability to track program success due to absence of USM central purchasing (each department orders its own supplies from different suppliers), and
d. the variety of existing recycling alternatives for USM offices interfering with effective tracking of USM Recycles collection program success;
7. USM Recycles is interested in improving and acknowledging the continued the effectiveness of their program;
8. USM Recycles is optimistic about improving collection effectiveness and resultantly having the revenue needed to hire someone to collect cartridges and manage other aspects of the program; and
9. USM Recycles does not yet have a dormitory cartridge collection program.
Methodology -Quantifying the waste and potential revenue at USM:
The findings of the questionnaire indicate that the existing program could be
significantly improved provided that better data is available to USM Recycles. Thus, for the purposes of assessing and improving sustainability at USM, the following
activities were undertaken in an effort to provide the information needed by USM Recycles to improve their effectiveness in collection of office inkjet and laser cartridge waste:
1. Potential recycling partners (including the IRN) were compared (Appendix III) in terms of their location and organizational practices in order to assure that USM is partnered with the group identified as having the most sustainable waste management practices;
2. USM Portland and Gorham offices were surveyed (Appendices I & II) to quantify:
a. the type and quantity of cartridges used,
b. how the empty cartridges are handled (including participation in USM Recycles), and
c. how new cartridges are supplied by/ordered from;
3. USM Dormitories were surveyed (Appendix II) to quantify:
a. the type and quantity of cartridges used, and
b. how the empty cartridges are handled (including participation in USM Recycles; and
4. Based on the results of activities 1-3, a recycling partner was recommended and
yearly revenues were estimated.
The following sections of this document present the findings of the recycling partner comparison and a recommendation for a future recycling partner; the results of the office and dorm surveys in terms of quantity, type and disposal of inkjet and laser cartridges for each sector; a description of the estimated benefits (financial) to be obtained through increased program effectiveness on the Portland and Gorham USM campuses; and a description of the program costs.
Findings-
Recycling Partner comparison and recommendation:
A questionnaire (Appendix III) was sent to various potential recycling partners as
located by a web-search (Google). The questions asked were intended to solicit information that would indicate the level of sustainability that could be achieved through a partnership between the organization and USM. The general criteria for this analysis include proximity to USM, the geographic reach of the organization, the degree of internal handling within the organization (vs. middle-man; related to geographic extent), disposal practices for parts not recycled by the organization, and modes of transportation of parts and products.
Table 1: Comparison of Recycling Partner Organizations
Based on the aforementioned
criteria, comparison of those organizations who responded to the sent
questionnaire indicates that Recycle First and eCycle Group represent the
most sustainable industry partners available to USM. The organizations
responses (all responses are compiled in Appendix III), though utilized for
comparison in this study, were not consistently transparent; and thus, 100%
confidence does not exist in the final recommendation for a recycling partner.
It should also be noted that there are many more potential partners than this
study was able to consider for reason of time-constraint. Thus, it is
recommended that further study be given to this aspect of a campus cartridge
recycling program. Also, there are many other variables that determine the
sustainability of an organization which were not taken into consideration in
this study; thus, the analysis of potential recycling partners in terms of sustainability
practices is weak, though it represents an initial best effort and a starting
point for a more thorough analysis.
Survey results
In an effort to quantify the brands and amounts of inkjet and laser cartridges being used by the USM community and therefore potentially viable for collection through a campus recycling and fundraiser program, 1) surveys were sent and responded to via email to Portland and Gorham offices (Appendix I) and 2) surveys were hand-distributed and collected in USM dormitories (Appendix II).
USM Offices
A survey was sent to 84 of 106 (79%) identified Administrative Assistants on the
USM campus. Surveys were sent via email; and thus, those AAs whose emails could not be found were excluded from the USM office survey population. This represents a potential weakness in the extrapolations used to quantify viable cartridge quantities and brands; however, these extrapolations currently serve as the best available information. Of the 84 surveys sent, 20 responses were obtained, representing almost 24% participation among office AAs.
The findings of the USM office survey indicate the following trends in inkjet cartridge use:
Ψ approximately 60% of USM offices use Hewlett Packard inkjet cartridges
o 92% of these offices use 0-3 per month, 8% use 3-5 per month
o 50% of used cartridges are thrown in the garbage
o 50% are collected for recycling (of which 25% returned to HP with no incentive)
Ψ approximately 15% of USM offices use Lexmark inkjet cartridges
o 66% of these offices use 0-3 per month, 33% uses 3-5
o 66% are thrown in the garbage
o 33% are collected for recycling
Ψ approximately 5% of USM offices use Epson inkjet cartridges
o 100% uses 0-3 per month
o Fate of used Epson cartridges could not be determined
Ψ approximately 20% of USM offices do not use inkjet cartridges at all
The findings of the USM office survey indicate the following trends in laser cartridge use:
Ψ Approximately 80% of USM offices use HP laser cartridges
o 94% use 0-3, 6% uses 3-5
o 100% of laser cartridges used in USM offices are recycled (63% returned to HP, 6% participate in USM Recycles, 31% recycled through various campus programs other than USM Recycles)
Ψ Approximately 15% of USM offices use Lexmark laser cartridges
o 100% uses 0-3
o 100% are recycled (of which 66% are recycled through campus programs other than USM Recycles)
Ψ Approximately 5% of USM offices do not use laser cartridges
In order to estimate the potential revenue that can be generated from these wastes, used cartridge values were taken from eCycle Group literature (Appendix VI) (Recycle First does not publish this information on their website); and a range of low to high values was identified for each brand (more accurate data could have been obtained if the office survey had asked not only for identification of brand of cartridge used, but also cartridge model so as to better quantify revenue). According to eCycle, acceptable HP inkjet cartridges have a value ranging from $0.50 to $5.00, acceptable Lexmark inkjet cartridges have a value ranging from $1.00 to $5.00, and Epson cartridges are not accepted. Also, acceptable HP laser cartridges have a value ranging from $1.00 to $8.00, and acceptable Lexmark laser cartridges have a value ranging from $1.00 to $18.00.
Using these value ranges and assuming 100% applicability of the survey results to an estimated total number of 100 USM offices, potential inkjet and laser cartridge revenue was estimated. The following tables show the results of these estimations:
Table 2: Estimation of Potential Yearly
Revenue from
USM Office Inkjet Cartridge Waste
|
Inkjet Brand |
# offices use |
# used/month* in
all USM offices |
Yearly quantity
(prev column x 12) |
|
|
|
HP |
60 |
74.4 ((60 x 0.92 x1) + (60 x 0.08 x 4)) |
893 |
$0.50 to $5.00 |
$450 to $4,500 |
|
Lexmark |
15 |
29.7 ((15 x 0.66 x1) + (15 x .33 x 4)) |
356 |
$1.00 to $5.00 |
$356 to $1780 |
|
Epson |
5 |
5 |
60 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Total Estimated
Potential Office Inkjet Cartridge Yearly Revenue |
|
|
|
|
$800 to $6,300 |
* Where response was 0-3,
assumed 1; where response was 3-5, assumed 4 (assumptions are meant to
underestimate vs. overestimate the potential revenue; survey should have been
more explicit and requested specific monthly or annual figures)
Table 3: Estimation of Potential Yearly
Revenue from
USM Office Laser Cartridge Waste
|
Inkjet Brand |
# offices use |
# used/month* in
all USM offices |
Yearly quantity
(prev column x 12) |
|
|
|
HP |
80 |
94.4 ((80 x 0.94 x1) + (80 x 0.06 x 4)) |
1133 |
$1.00 to $8.00 |
$1130 to $9060 |
|
Lexmark |
15 |
15 |
180 |
$1.00 to $18.00 |
$180 to $3240 |
|
Total Estimated
Potential Office Laser Cartridge Yearly Revenue |
|
|
|
|
$1,310 to $12,300 |
* Where response was 0-3,
assumed 1; where response was 3-5, assumed 4 (assumptions are meant to
underestimate vs. overestimate the potential revenue; survey should have been
more explicit and requested specific monthly or annual figures)
Based on the
survey results and extrapolations and assumptions previously mentioned, USM
office inkjet and laser cartridge waste represents a potential source of
revenue for the University ranging from $2,100 to $18,600.
The
survey also found that 95% of the laser and inkjet consuming office community does
not participate in and/or is not aware of USM Recycles program. However, in
general, approximately 35% of inkjet and 85% of laser cartridges are currently
being recycled through various programs, most frequently manufacturer (e.g. HP)
programs without financial incentive. USM Office participation in such
manufacturer programs, while contributing to source reduction and other
sustainability goals, deprives the University of a potentially significant
source of revenue.
At $22 per
quarter-ounce, a Hewlett-Packard color ink-jet cartridge is more expensive, by
weight, than imported Russian caviar. (Spring, 2003).
As the
USM community has paid for the ink cartridges, they might as well reap the
benefits available to reward the move toward source reduction and sustainable
behavior. Awareness of a centralized collection effort through USM Recycles
aimed at generating revenue for USM is expected to increase AA participation in
the program, and thus effectively capture this lost revenue. Survey results
also indicate that supplies are ordered from a variety of suppliers, which may
also influence consistency in inkjet and laser cartridge waste handling.
Consistency of supply source is expected to encourage consistency in waste
management, though the particulars of this assumption were not assessed.
Further study is needed.
USM Students
While USM offices are a significant source of inkjet and laser cartridge waste and
thus also potential revenue; the student body is another sector of the waste and potential revenue-generating USM community. Sarah DePriest surveyed various USM Dormitories; and received 14 responses.
The results of the survey indicate the following trends in student inkjet cartridge use:
Ψ Approximately 57% of USM students use HP inkjet cartridges
Ψ Approximately 21% of USM students use Lexmark inkjet cartridges
Ψ USM students use 7% each Sharp, Canon or Compaq inkjet cartridges
Based on a reported use of 1 inkjet cartridge per month (it was a failure of the survey to not allow for specific figures) an assumed student population of 11,000, up to 6270 HP, 2310 Lexmark, 770 Sharp, 770 Canon and 770 Compaq inkjet cartridges are used by students monthly.
The following table assumes 3 cartridges are used by each student per year in an effort to mitigate the over-estimation likely to result from the aforementioned flaw in survey methodology.
Table 4: Estimation of Potential Yearly
Revenue from
USM Student Inkjet Cartridge Waste
|
Inkjet Brand |
# students who use
brand |
Estimated annual
use (assuming 3 per year) |
|
|
|
HP |
6270 |
18810 |
$0.50 to $5.00 |
$9400 to $94,000 |
|
Lexmark |