Teen Inspires National Discussion on Earth-Friendly Printing

SPRING GROVE, Ill., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- When the news broke of a 14-year-old's discovery that a simple type font change could save the government millions of dollars, suddenly, ink and toner cartridges became the topic of conversations around the country. The fact of the matter is ink and toner cartridges have an enormous impact on small business owners' and consumers' wallets as well as the environment.

With Earth Day approaching on April 22, Cartridge World is reminding small businesses, schools and consumers that printer cartridges don't have to break the bank – or damage the environment.

"People are discarding millions of empty cartridges without realizing that most can be refilled 5-7 times and then recycled," said Tom McLaughlin, Marketing Director of Cartridge World. The financial benefit of using remanufactured cartridges is enormous. "At Cartridge World, businesses and consumers can save up to 30 percent off the cost of full-priced cartridges at a big box store, and spare the environment."

Cartridge World's earth-friendly remanufacturing program recycles more than 4.5 million printer cartridges annually. It adds massive environmental benefits, considering the following statistics:

• Most consumers buy three to four ink cartridges a year for their printer at home, which produce 600 million empty cartridges.
• There are approximately 1.3 billion ink cartridges used around the world and over 70 percent are being discarded without reuse.
• It takes up to 450 years for a laser cartridge to decompose in a landfill. Those that are made of industrial grade plastic will take over 1,000 years.

Customers can recycle their empty ink and toner cartridges at any Cartridge World store. Every recycled laser cartridge keeps nearly two pounds of metal and plastic waste from being disposed. Most store locations recycle old printers and small electronics, such as cell phones, as well.

Cartridge World also encourages office managers and teachers to request a "recycle" box to collect empty cartridges and to participate in a fundraising program in which they raise money for their local school.

Another way businesses and consumers can save money and reduce their eco footprint is through a free software app from Cartridge World called PrintEco™. The app reduces the amount of wasted paper and costs by as much as 24 percent. With the click of a button, the PrintEco app optimizes print documents and reduces printed waste.

To learn how much your home or business can save on printing costs, visit your local store or Cartridge World's online savings calculator.

Cartridge World is the leading ink and toner retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry. The company sells printers, paper, printing supplies and services, and uses state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to build high quality ink and toner cartridges. Cartridge World stores provide a tremendous cost-saving alternative to buying new printer cartridges, offering up to a 30-percent discount over full-priced name brand cartridges. Cartridge World also offers a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee and free delivery to business customers. Ranked in the Top 100 franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, Cartridge World has more than 1,400 retail locations in over 50 countries. For information about Cartridge World products or franchise opportunities, visit www.CartridgeWorld.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130808/CG59919LOGO-b

SOURCE Cartridge World