While contributing a lot to the local economy, dealers of technology products also account for a significant amount of biodegradable waste that usually ends up in Saipan’s only landfill which has a life span of not longer than 25 years.
Bernie B. Mabalot, operations manager of e-Center Plus in Garapan, which caters to the needs of office operations and information technology, is a billion-dollar industry that promises economic growth as it provides jobs and helps all kinds of businesses become more efficient.
But not everybody seems mindful of the environmental impact of this industry on a fragile island environment.
Based on their sale monitoring, Mabalot said a single business office with an average load of operation uses up to two toner and 10 ink cartridges in two months.
In the CNMI, almost every office uses printing machines which require toner and ink cartridges.
Mabalot said it will take 1,200 years before these disposable materials decay.
In a single month, Mabalot said their clients will use a total of 150 toner cartridges, 700 ink cartridges and 40 pieces of special office supplies.
Many of these items are made of plastics which are by-products of fossil fuel. The raw materials used in manufacturing these office items are composed mainly of industrial oil, Mabalot said.
A thumb-size item, which is normally made of Grade A plastic, requires 1.5 liters of oil, not to mention other production costs which include labor and power.
Reuse and recycle
For many years now, e-Center has been promoting recycling and reusing disposable materials, Mabalot said.
Although some printing companies discourage people from reusing their products, obviously for profit reason, these items are reusable.
But many dealers allow their clients to just have cartridges refilled instead of buying brand new products.
This will not only save the entire industry 1.5 liters of oil for every item but also saves each buyer money.
More importantly, having these highly biodegradable materials go back and forth from clients to dealers at least seven times can extend the life of the landfill.
This is the main idea of e-Center Plus’ Inkchromax Advantage.
This is an authorized ink refilling and manufacturing laboratory that “cuts costs without compromising quality as it gives customers the finest optimized ink formulated in accordance with strict German technology and the kind of e-Center Plus customer service that provides an edge in printing needs.”
“Our research and development team is second to none. Realizing the necessity to maintain quality, we have built a strong relationship with vendors. Quality begins with components that are selected for each cartridge. We research and test every available drum and toner combination for yield, print density and overall consistency before rolling out any new products,” e-Center Plus said in a statement.
“We care about our environment. That is why we are taking the necessary steps to promote environmental responsibility,” the firm added.
Advocacy
In accomplishing its own brand of corporate responsibility, e-Center Plus will start its recycling campaign in schools.
Mabalot said they plan to give incentives to public and private schools that turn in empty toner cartridges.
The incentives, he said, will go to the teachers, students, support staff and other administration personnel who, instead of throwing ink cartridges, have them refilled.
e-Center Plus will buy the empty cartridges.
Mabalot said refilling means meeting the “green-standard” and not acquiring a substandard item.
Aside from ink and toner cartridges, the other products and services that e-Center Plus provides are personal computers, laptops, their parts, IT solution products and services, antivirus software and printer repair.
For more information, call 233-5252.
