Printers and Profits Proliferating

According to Lyra Research, in 2002 almost one billion toner and inkjet cartridges were shipped worldwide which resulted in total cartridge sales worth almost $20 billion. Since 1997, the number of monochrome printers models in the top 75 percent of the U.S. installed printer base has grown
114 percent, from 35 in 1997 to 75 in 2003. These figures parallel both the growth of the remanufactured ink and toner cartridge industry and the expansion of diverse production required to meet cartridge replacement needs.


UKCRA Discusses WEEE Implementation with UK Agencies

Members of the United Kingdom Cartridge Remanufacturers Association (UKCRA) recently met with representatives from two government agencies to discuss why consumables should be included when the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is implemented in the United Kingdom.

UKCRA members were joined by European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturing Association (ETIRA) representatives when they met with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of the Environment (DEFRA) as part of the discussion period leading up to the August 2004 implementation deadline. For further information go to http://www.ukcra.com.

Washington State Introduces Electronic Waste Bill

A bill recently introduced in Washington state could lead to a key piece of legislation to address the growing problem of electronic waste. Washington state's House Bill 1942, titled "Regulating Electronic Waste," includes many features similar to early versions of the European Union's recently passed Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

The current version of the bill provides for producers of electronic waste to plan and be responsible for the waste's end-of-life disposal. The bill encourages "environmentally friendly" products, including those "that contain recycled or remanufactured parts, that are designed for easy disassembly and recycling, that are easy to upgrade or reuse, and that are designed for a longer life."

For more information on the bill, visit the Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation or the Washington State Legislature site.


Cartridge Chicanery in the UK

A recent string of break-ins has left British cartridge brokers, dealers and remanufacturers short of stock, as tens of thousands of empty cartridges haven been stolen in recent months. Remanufacturers around the world need to be on alert to protect their stocks and know their sources of empty cartridges.

"There seems to be a number of related burglaries," said Police Constable Neil Crux.

"They have been breaking into warehouses, and are stealing a few thousand empty cartridges at a time."

"(The thieves) know exactly what they're doing," David Connett, publisher of The Recycler, said. They know which cartridges are the most valuable, and in one large remanufacturer's building, "They knew exactly where to go, which windows to break and which doors to force."

There's been no report of any ink or toner theft. Stand by.