Itec’s 46 branches nationwide have installed recycling boxes so used cartridges can be collected, stripped down and either reused or recycled safely.

The company has added its clout to a long-running initiative started by printer company Lexmark, the Lexmark Cartridge Collection Programme.

While Itec already runs its own environmental sustainability programme with impactChoice, adding its weight to Lexmark’s programme should make a vast difference in the number of cartridges being reused rather than dumped as pollution.

The situation is serious. Figures from IDC show that approximately 11 million cartridges are thrown into landfills each year in South Africa, leaching inks and powders into the soil and water.

“We have a zero landfill policy so we want to get the cartridges returned to strip out the components and make sure they are reused or disposed of in a safe way,” says Lexmark’s country manager, Mark Hiller.

“The reverse logistics of getting the cartridges back is the challenge. Itec is one of our partners in taking our products to market, and as part of this programme Itec will recycle cartridges from its customers by returning them to us,” says Hiller. “We expect to see a significant increase now that Itec is involved due to the number of printers within Itec’s client base, thereby expanding our catchment area.”

Itec marketing manager, Kim Thompson says joining the programme further strengthens Itec’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Itec has sent recycling boxes to all its dealers and will accept used cartridges of any brand. “We are also not limiting the programme to our client base. Staff from any company may drop off their cartridges with our dealers,” says Thompson.

For every returned cartridge Lexmark donates cash to Cotlands, a community development organisation for orphaned and vulnerable children. Since launching its initiative in 2002 Lexmark has recycled 200 tons of cartridges and donated R4.5-million to Cotlands.

Thompson says the feel-good factor of helping children as well as helping the planet will hopefully further motivate customers to return their cartridges. So far the feedback regarding the initiative has been very positive.

“The ability to provide clients with environmental sustainability solutions that are practical and easy to implement is very important to us, so when Lexmark approached us to work with its recycling project we were happy to supplement our existing green efforts,” she says. “People are becoming increasingly aware of the impact they are having on the environment, so they are more inclined to participate than before. Everybody uses cartridges and toners and this is an easy way for people to drop them off and contribute to the environment. This small action will also make a large impact on Cotlands.”

While large corporate customers and Itec dealers have recycling boxes on their premises, individuals can also participate because every Lexmark ink cartridge has a pre-paid envelope in the pack so consumers can conveniently return the old one.

Itec’s main green initiative is impactChoice, where it helps clients neutralise the environmental impact of their office equipment. “With impactChoice we implement solutions for customers to make the office automation products they are using carbon neutral,” says Thompson. “We encourage customers to have a greenhouse gas audit to establish what their carbon footprint is and offset everything including their delivery vehicles, printing equipment, generators and even their events,” says Thompson.

Customers pay a monthly fee based on their carbon footprint and the cash is invested into initiatives such as the Sofala Community Carbon project in Mozambique, which rehabilitates degraded forests.

Through its relationship with impactChoice, Itec issues clients guaranteed carbon offset credits backed up by micro-certificates. These micro-certificates are, in turn, linked to verifiable and audited, macro Voluntary Emission Reduction Certificates, Certified Emission Reduction Certificates, or Renewable Energy Certificates as traded on the global voluntary and formal carbon exchanges. This also puts clients a step ahead of South Africa’s carbon emission requirements.