Go solid

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

If everything we buy is designed to be thrown out, why not buy better?

That can be as simple as replacing that five-pound printer or copier cartridge with all its plastics, metals and non-recyclable parts with a two-inch square of solid ink.

“People are becoming aware of solid ink technology,” says Kentville’s Computerized Business Solutions account manager Mike Suhonos. “It’s been out for many years.”

What “it” is is a wax-based ink that “goes down into a little bowl, melts and goes out into the system on a roller – like typical printers,” Suhonos says. It dries instantly, with no smudging or smearing.

“It’s just part of an environmental office system.”

Suhonos knows most office printers have cartridges that are recyclable now – but only if staff ship the used cartridge back to the selling company.

“How many people do that? Should you switch to solid ink? It’s a knowledge thing, and there’s more focus on it now.”

If businesses do a typical electronics upgrade every three years, making environmental choices can be made a part of that process.

“I have one shelf here with all the solid ink stock I need for all my regular customers – as opposed to three shelves for the people I still have using cartridges.”

Suhonos says the initial cost of upgrading to a solid ink printer may be more than a traditional printer, but not much more if you’re already looking for complex office features such as duplexing, networking and paper sizing. At home, 50 solid ink copies a month won’t make for any savings – other than environmental; a small, home-based business could definitely see green differences – in cash and its environmental impact.