Re: [greenyes] Epson "recycles" smart cartridges into energy

[Camille Armantrout <bobandcamille@no.address>]

Not sure if you meant to share your great letter with the rest of the group but, assuming you did - Great Letter!  We need to fight this every time it comes up.  It is wrong, wrong, wrong to label Waste-to-energy as recycling.

 

I have been talking with a local entrepreneur about putting together a recycling program before distributing his new phone directory on Maui.  In our first conversation, he said he was thinking about shipping them to Oahu to be incinerated.  I told them that the folks in the recycling industry wouldn't consider that recycling and he is now looking into composting them instead.

 

Good on you for staying on it.  We all need to keep our ears and eyes open for this kind of fallacy.

 

Camille Armantrout
**********************
Pete -

Here's a terse e-mail I fired off to Epson and the Funding Factory as 
soon as I read the announcement from Recycling Times. I'm glad you 
picked-up on this as well. I'll share any response I get from them.

Are there others who want to take them on with me? In addition to my 
local contacts, I'll need solid connections with reputable national 
remanufacturing companies? Any leads would be appreciated.

- Jack

Begin forwarded message:

> From: jack debell 
> Date: September 14, 2004
> To: recycle_support@no.address
> Cc: info@no.address
> Subject: Funding Factory announcement
>
> Hello:
>
> I just read in Recycling Today that Epson is partnering with the 
> Funding Factory for return of used Epson cartridges 
> (http://www.recyclingtoday.com/News/news.asp?Id=6390). I understand 
> that these cartridges will be incinerated at waste-to-energy 
> facilities.
>
> This is not recycling! Numerous agencies and organizations have 
> confirmed this distinction over the years. Epson and the Funding 
> Factory are doing a grave disservice to our industry and to our youth 
> by confusing incineration with recycling.
>
> I for one, will not stand for this! Education institutions and trade 
> groups will soon discover this error as well. Your companys' 
> announcements must be reversed.
>
> Please contact me directly as soon as possible to rectify this 
> situation.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jack DeBell
>
>
> Jack DeBell
> Director, University of Colorado Recycling Services
> UMC 355
> 207 UCB
> Boulder, CO U.S.A. 80309-0207
> 303.492.8307 office
> 303.492.3244 fax
> debell@no.address
> www.colorado.edu/recycling


On Sep 14, 2004, at 3:03 PM, Pete Pasterz wrote:

> apparently since they are not refillable, school kids can learn that 
> incineration is also recycling!
>
> {in today's Recycling Today enews--}
>
> Epson Offering Program to Recycle Ink Cartridges
>
>
> 9/14/2004
>
>
> Epson America announced that it is continuing its partnership with 
> FundingFactory that allows schools and nonprofits nationwide to return 
> ink cartridges for rewards that can boost fundraising efforts and help 
> the environment. Educational and nonprofit organizations can earn 
> points by collecting genuine Epson ink cartridges and sending them to 
> FundingFactory for recycling. The cartridges will be converted to 
> energy through an environmentally sound incineration process at a 
> licensed waste-to-energy recycling facility.
>
> Participation in FundingFactory is free to all schools and nonprofit 
> organizations. Once an organization registers at 
> www.FundingFactory.com, materials are sent to help them launch the 
> program and start earning points in an easy-to-use online account. The 
> account is credited with points for every eligible Epson cartridge 
> sent to FundingFactory; those points can be redeemed by the 
> organization for cash and/or equipment.
>
> "Our program partners are ecstatic about the new partnership with 
> Epson," said Sean Michaels, general manager, FundingFactory. "They 
> have been asking us to bring Epson on board for quite some time so 
> they can buy industry leading products for their classrooms and 
> offices."
>
> "Epson is proud to support schools and nonprofits by offering a 
> recycling program that has great rewards," said John Dillender, vice 
> president, service and support, Epson. "All of us must play a role in 
> protecting the environment and this program does a fine job of 
> motivating and rewarding the efforts of those who recycle."
>
>
>
> For information about Epson and its products, call 1-800-GO-EPSON or 
> visit the web site at www.epson.com.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Tuesday, September 14, 2004
>
>
>
>
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>
Jack DeBell
Director, University of Colorado Recycling Services
UMC 355
207 UCB
Boulder, CO U.S.A. 80309-0207
303.492.8307 office
303.492.3244 fax
debell@no.address
www.colorado.edu/recycling