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Re: [greenyes] Fwd: A Message From Epson


Pete,
Thanks for the tidbit about the "kill" chip. Where did you learn that? And
do you know if the Silicon Valley Toxic Action Coalition, or any other
e-waste group, is involved in this issue? Seems like a coordinated response
is needed.
Jenny

On 9/30/04 8:16 AM, Pete Pasterz at ppasterz@no.address wrote:

> The short answer is profit. Epson, by designing their cartridges with a chip
> that "kills" the cartridge, even before it is completely empty, and renders it
> unreusable guarantees that they control the supply market for their printers.
> You can buy an Epson printer for as little as $100, but spend $30 for each
> cartridge...with a HEFTY profit margin on each.
>
>>>> "Pat Franklin" <pfranklin@no.address> 09/29/04 08:05PM >>>
> Boy, talk about stretching the definition of recycling...... What we want is
> "reused" not "recycled" cartridges anyway. aMy guess is that it does cost
> less, as Wayne Turner suggests, just as it costs less to replace a toaster
> or a clock or just about anything else these days. But it seems to me that
> if they had a high enough volume of returned cartridges to make it worth
> their while to invest in a "refill" system, and if (this part's important)
> consumers let them know that they want reused (not recycled) cartridges,
> then I think they'd do it.
>
> ****************************************
> Patricia Franklin
> Executive Director
> Container Recycling Institute
> 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Ste. 702
> Arlington, VA 22209
>
> TEL: 703.276.9800
> FAX: 703.276.9587
> EMAIL: pfranklin@no.address
>
> http://www.container-recycling.org
> http://www.bottlebill.info
> ****************************************
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wayne Turner [mailto:WAYNET@no.address]
> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:56 AM
> To: amuller@no.address; greenyes@no.address; gaia-members@no.address
> Subject: Re: [greenyes] Fwd: A Message From Epson
>
>
> I received an identical reply from the same source as Alan.
>
> Can anyone explain why Epson is choosing incineration over refilling
> cartridges while so many other inkjet producers or third part orgs. are
> going the refilling route? Would that be because it costs less to
> produce new inkjet cartridges than to refill old ones? Any thoughts,
> ideas or facts?
>
> Wayne
>
------ Forwarded Message
From: Jenny Gitlitz <jenny.gitlitz@no.address>
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 09:59:20 -0400
To: greenyes <greenyes@no.address>
Cc: Alan Muller <amuller@no.address>
Subject: Re: [greenyes] Fwd: A Message From Epson

Hi Alan,

My read of this kind of near-form letter indicates that Epson is unwilling
to truly reconsider its WTE policy, or its PR, on used cartridges. They are
trying to save face, and doing it poorly by leaning on "federally approved"
methods etc., and by reducing the complaints of GreenYessers to one of
semantics (should they call it "recycling" or "energy recovery") rather than
substance.

As far as a response, I'd offer two things:
1) WTE as "the best solution we have identified so far" is disingenuous.
This is not my forté, but I was under the impression that other companies
have managed to make the refilling and resale of spent cartridges
economical, so I don't know why Epson can't do that, too. (Anyone wanna
explain that to me?)

2) Just because "a valuable end-product, which is usable energy, is produced
by burning cartridges," doesn't mean that is the best method to "dispose" of
spent cartridges. One could burn my old kitchen table to produce "usable
energy," too, but that doesn't mean one should; surely it could be
refinished and resold to a person for a second life.

Is there a point person working on this issue, or is it so far just a
collection of individuals writing Epson on their own?

--Jenny

Jennifer Gitlitz
Research Director, Container Recycling Institute

Home Office:
2 Pomeroy Ave.
Dalton, MA 01226
Tel. (413) 684-4746
Mobile: (413) 822-0115
Fax: (413) 403-0233
Email: jgitlitz@no.address

Container Recycling Institute headquarters:
1911 N. Ft. Myer Dr. #702
Arlington, VA 22209-1603
Tel. (703) 276-9800
Fax: (703) 276-9587
www.container-recycling.org
www.bottlebill.org

>>>> Alan Muller <amuller@no.address> 09/30/04 06:43AM >>>
>
>> I received this reply from Epson in response to my note objecting to
> their
>> "recycling" of printer cartridges by incineration:
>
>> Dear Mr. Muller,
>>
>> I received your message regarding Epson's expansion of our ink
> cartridge
>> recycling program. I appreciate your concerns and thank you for
> taking
>> the time to share your thoughts.
>>
>> Our goal is to provide the most efficient and environmentally safe
> method
>> of disposing of empty ink cartridges while also being able to help our
>
>> schools. The research we did indicates that the federally approved
>> waste-to-energy facility we are using is an effective and appropriate
> way
>> to dispose of these containers and the best solution we have
> identified so
>> far.
>>
>> A modern waste-to-energy facility should not be confused with simple
> open
>> burning of refuse. In a waste-to-energy facility, the heat generated
> by
>> the combustion process is recovered and converted into usable energy.
> The
>> energy is produced either in the form of steam or in the form of
>> electricity produced by steam turbine generators. Waste-to-energy
>> facilities have state-of-the-art air pollution control systems to
> ensure
>> permit compliance. This process reduces waste by 90%, which would
>> otherwise go into a landfill.
>>
>> It has been brought to our attention, however, that while this process
>
>> creates a valuable end-product, which is usable energy, many people
>> believe more accurate term is energy recovery, rather than the generic
>
>> term recycling that we used to describe it. While we believe our
> solution
>> has many merits, we are always looking for improvement, so I welcome
> your
>> suggestions for better alternatives as we continue to seek out methods
> to
>> improve this process.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Shelby Houston
>> Manager, Customer Programs
>> Epson America, Inc.
>> shelby_houston@no.address
>> 562-290-5445
>
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