* * Turning Trash Into Treasure* *

Just Empties - Printer Cartridge Recycling
Tucson Arizona

Recycled Ink Cartridges Give Life To Couple’s Dream
By Kathy Van Voorhees, Inside Tucson Business, July 2, 2006

Think again before throwing away that old ink or laser cartridge. Did you know that it can be recycled?

Not many people do, but Dennis and Lucy Smith have made it their business to save those cartridges from a useless life in a landfill, putting them to good use helping the poor in Puerto Peñasco Mexico.

“The plastic from ink cartridges can take up to 3,000 years to decompose. By recycling them we can reduce landfill waste and take the profits from selling the cartridges and help Mexico’s poor,” said Dennis Smith, 58.

Early this year, after selling their primary business – Arizona Ink Ltd., an imaging supply company in Prescott – the Smiths took a 90 percent pay cut, built an office and warehouse in the back of their Tucson home and are devoting themselves to their secondary business: Just Empties, Inc.

“Our business [Arizona Ink Ltd.] was very successful, growing between five percent and 18 percent in gross sales every year. In 2003 we started going down to Puerto Peñasco on short term mission work trips. We decided that the time to sell a business was while it was growing and profitable and we can concentrate on our other business, Just Empties,” Lucy Smith said.

Just Empties collects used ink and laser cartridges from businesses and individuals and sells them to third party remanufacturers that will then refurbish and recycle the cartridges, keeping them out of a landfill.

Half of the profits made by these sales support the Smiths and the other half helps the Puerto Penasco community.

“To do this profitably, you need large quantities of cartridges, about 500 at a time,” Dennis Smith said.

Used cartridges sell for amounts ranging from 10 cents to eight dollars depending on supply and demand, with Canon and HP being the most profitable. The Smiths say that they can usually collect 500 cartridges in six weeks with two to three pick-ups a day.

“We provide bins for businesses and if you live in the Tucson area we will come by and pick up your used cartridges free of charge. We want to make donating as easy as possible,” said Dennis Smith.

With over 20,000 different types of cartridges, the Smiths also encourage donors to simply package and send their old cartridges to Just Empties and they will take care of the rest. They will even recycle the packaging material that the cartridges are sent in.

“After 13 years with Arizona Ink, we felt that we needed to make more of a difference, in our lives and in the lives of others,” Lucy Smith said, “We wanted to do something more purposeful.”

Every six weeks the Smiths lead teams of 20 to 30 volunteers across the border to serve meals, build houses and stock food banks with the donations they gain from selling old cartridges and fundraising through their church.

“Our motto is we want to give a hand up, not a handout,” said Lucy Smith.

Their biggest project began in February 2006 when the Smiths, along with Mexico Mission Life Group at Pantano Christian Church, started to build a medical clinic that would be free to those who live in the barrios of Puerto Penasco. The Smiths hope the clinic is up and running by the end of July. So far, through various donations, they have collected exam tables, tubing and syringes for the clinic.

“Every little bit helps. If you have 2,000 people donate one cartridge, that’s 1,000 cartridges that we can sell. It not only helps the Mexican people, it helps the environment,” Dennis Smith said.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2002 there were 1,767 landfills in the United States, four of which are in Pima County. Printer ink and laser cartridges fall in the plastic category of municipal waste, which compromises 11.3 percent, or 26.7 million tons, of landfill waste.

“We ask people to just save and keep the cartridges; do anything to keep them out of a landfill. Donate them, educate others, that’s all we can ask for,” Dennis Smith said.

However, the Smiths also work with the Tucson community by providing “Cash for Cartridges” opportunities for local schools and Girl Scout troops.

“We’re always happy to partner with schools and help with their fundraising campaigns,” Lucy Smith said.

The schools or troops are in charge of collecting the cartridges, which they then send to the Smiths at Just Empties.

“We look over the cartridges and pay them right away. It’s a great fundraising opportunity. Most cartridge recycling places will wait six weeks before payment, but you will get your money right away with us,” Dennis Smith said.

The Smiths say that if you are interested in donating or starting a fundraising program, please contact them or visit their website for more information.

“One day I hope to have a recycling badge for the Girl Scouts,” Lucy Smith said with a chuckle. “We care so much for the environment; we want to do everything we can to help.”

Laser Cartridges | Inkjet Cartridges | About Us | Mexico Mission Work

Contact Us | Policies | Web Links | Home