RE: [greenyes] Epson, burning, recycling, and Funding Factory recycling programs

["Heidi Feldman" <hfeldman@no.address>]

Regarding the disparity in operations between the U.S. and Europe...I think this is an issue we should focus on. First of all, it shows that by making greater demands of these companies in other countries results in better environmental practices and encourages corporate responsibility. Second, the fact that these companies are already involved in these programs should make it easier to transfer these attitudes and practices to their operations here in the U.S.   Other examples: soft drink companies using recycled content in their bottles, auto manufacturers building fully recyclable cars, and??
If it hasn't been done already, and I do remember reading some policy discussions comparing EPR here and abroad, I think it would be a great grad student project!

Heidi Feldman
Public Education Coordinator
Monterey Regional Waste Management District
Tel.: 831/384-5313     FAX: 831/384-3567

-----Original Message-----
From: Monica Wilson [mailto:mwilson@no.address] 
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 11:08 AM
To: greenyes@no.address
Subject: [greenyes] Epson, burning, recycling, and Funding Factory recycling programs

Dear all,

Thank you for sharing your responses from Epson, it has been helpful to see
differences in how Epson operates in different countries. I don't know
whether anyone has received responses from Epson USA offices regarding the
Epson USA press release that disclosed Epson USA's policy of incinerating
cartridges collected by kids for Funding Factory recycling program.

As far as we know, Epson UK offices (NOT EPSON USA) have responded to
emails, and there appear to be two types of responses. The first kind of
response is below, stating that Epson UK recycles used cartridges in the UK.
The second kind of response that we have seen from Epson UK simply restates
the Epson USA press release that announced Epson USA's intent to incinerate
cartridges collected for recycling, and says that incineration is recycling.

Funding Factory itself, the recycling collection program mentioned in the
Epson USA press release, has stated by email (see today's email from Pete
Pasterz) and on the phone that Funding Factory does not perform the
recycling for many companies, including Epson, and instead returns the
collected cartridges directly to Epson.

It is interesting to note that Epson UK is recycling cartridges, while Epson
USA is incinerating cartridges collected for recycling. A number of
questions include whether Epson USA truly recycles or reuses any cartridges
or whether all used Epson cartridges are incinerated by the company, and why
Epson cartridges are not being refilled (we have been informed by some
refilling stores that almost all Epson cartridges are refillable). GAIA has
written to Epson USA to ask this and other questions, and we will share
their response with the GreenYes list.

Thanks, Monica
--
Monica Wilson
GAIA: Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives/ Global Anti-Incinerator
Alliance, http://www.no-burn.org
1442A Walnut St #20, Berkeley, CA 94709 USA
+1-510-883-9490  ext. 2#
mwilson@no.address


-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Liss [mailto:gary@no.address]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 10:29 AM
To: greenyes@no.address
Subject: [greenyes] Fw: Epson response


If you know the answer, please respond directly to Dorothy and Nigel.
Thanks!

Gary

>From: "Dorothy" <theadora@no.address>
>To: "Gary Liss" <gary@no.address>
>Subject: Fw: Epson response
>Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 09:55:37 +0100
>
>Hi Gary - Epson appear to be denying the burning of cartridges - ooer
>i don't know the Euro standards they're on about -  do you?
>rgds
>Dorothy
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Nigel Lee" <nigel.lee@no.address>
>To: "Dorothy" <theadora@no.address>
>Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 4:05 PM
>Subject: FW: Epson response
>
> > Hello Dorothy,
> >
> > Here is the answer I got from Epson - they don't burn their cartridges,
>they
> > recycle the plastic.
> >
> > Do you know what European standards they are referring to in not
refilling
> > cartridges?
> >
> > Nigel.
> >
> > Nigel Lee
> > Nottingham Friends of the Earth
> > 51 Braidwood Court
> > Nottingham
> > NG7 6EW
> > 0115 978 8059
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jane [mailto:enquiries@no.address]
> > Sent: 24 September 2004 12:39
> > To: nigel.lee@no.address
> > Subject: Re: general_enquiry email from UK website <<#277296-259597#>>
> > EPSON e-mail Ref No-2711-259597-September 24, 2004
> > Please do not alter this header as we will be unable to trace the
history
>of
> > your enquiry.
> >
> > Dear Nigel
> >
> > Thank you for contacting EPSON e-mail support.
> >
> > Please be advised that we do not incinerate our cartridges. They are
sent
> > for grounding down and remoulding. We do not refill cartridges as this
can
> > cause air blocks in the cartridge, which in turn can cause damage to the
> > print head system. This is in line with European standards.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jane Animashaun
> > e-Service Support Technician
> > EPSON Customer Inter@no.address Centre
> >
> > Go to http://etalk.epson.co.uk/buyepson.html for all your genuine EPSON
> > consumables.
> > Or call Consumable Sales on 08702 417251.
> >
> > ********FREE FIRST CLASS DELIVERY ON ORDERS UNDER 1KG********
> >
> > Extend your warranty to 3 years with prices starting from £34.08,
>available
> > up to 12 months from date of purchase on all products.
> >
> > ***********CONTACT 08704 437766 FOR FURTHER DETAILS***********
> >

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com