2008-9-4 15:13:38   Author:

The Sun Sets on Staples’ Recycle for Education Ink and Toner Cartridge ProgramPublished on July 8th, 2008 Posted by Taeho Lim in News      
May 15, 2008 marked the end of a 5 year era as Staples pulled the plug on its mildly controversial Recycle for Education Ink and Toner Cartridge Recycling Program and scaled it back into its storewide recycling initiative. As we reported earlier, schools in Galesburg, Illinois made local headlines when they faced long delays in recouping the money Staples promised to pay for their recyclable cartridges. They eventually got their refunds, but only after months of calls and emails. A few weeks after our report, Staples instituted the following key changes to its program:

It’s not just for educators anymore.
Mailed cartridges are no longer accepted. You have to walk into a store and physically submit your cartridges.
Staples now accepts all HP, Lexmark and Dell ink and toner cartridges.
You can only bring in up to three cartridges per day.
No more monetary donations. Staples Rewards is your new currency and you get $3 per cartridge. Staples then sends you your rewards once you earn $10 or at the end of the calendar year, whichever comes first. In other words, you’ll have to make at least two trips to your local Staples to receive your rewards, or you’ll have to wait until the end of the year to collect.