From ink cartridges to cork

photo by Target

With 1,740 store in the United States, Target is doing its part to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. There are now recycling bins in front of every store for beverage containers (aluminum, plastic and glass), plastic bags, MP3 players, cell phones and ink cartridges. This is a good start, Target. Of course, I'll feel much better about you when you start carrying plastic pants or other diaper covers. After all, what sense does it make to sell cloth diapers if you don't sell covers for them? That's like selling cars without tires and forcing your consumers to go elsewhere to complete their purchase. And I've told many a manager that very thing.

My choice for ink cartridge recycling is Staples. They give me a $3 credit for each cartridge I bring in and then send me a check to use at the store. I take my checks in and purchase 100% recycled copy paper. It's a good deal all the way around.


Next Sunday, Target is launching an online eco-boutique. They will also be giving buyers 1.5 million free reusable shopping bags. And, like Best Buy, they take your old laptops and phones in exchange for gift cards. Plus, for every reusable bag you use, you get a nickel discount at the register.

More retail recycling news: Whole Foods, with 292 stores across the US, Canada and the UK, now has drop boxes in the stores for wine corks. I think this is so cool. With cork being a renewable, recyclable material, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to be tossing it into the landfills. Partnering with Cork ReHarvest, Whole Foods will collect the corks for recycling and send them to various destinations on trucks already headed that way.

Western Pulp is one recipient of the corks. They produce recyclable wine shippers. Yemm & Hart will use them to make cork floor tiles and Jelinek Cork Group in the UK will turn them into a variety of cork products.

Wow. I think milestone anniversaries of Earth Day should come around more often! Sustainable living just keeps getting easier.

Keeping it green,

Hana



Target Promotional Codes are possibly available for ink cartridges.