Ink Cartridge Fundraiser

By organizing recycling fundraisers, nonprofit groups and public school classes can earn some money while doing something positive for the environment. Most people are familiar with municipal recycling programs for such items as newspapers, aluminum cans, plastic jugs, and glass bottles. But innovative programs also offer cash or reward points for other items, such as used cell phones. Some companies offer ink cartridge fundraiser opportunities for school children to earn such rewards as technological supplies or recreation equipment for their classes. Efforts such as these have been beneficial in reducing the amount of municipal solid waste (a fancy phrase for trash) that ends up in the country's landfills. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the amount of municipal solid waste going to landfills has decreased each year since 1990. In the fifteen-year period between 1990 and 2005, municipal solid waste has decreased by nine million tons. About a third of all municipal solid waste is currently recycled. This is positive news for everyone who cares about being a good steward of resources. It's an important principle. The historian Luke gives this account in his gospel of Jesus' teaching: "And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. . . . He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:1-2, 10).
Research, organization, and leadership are important factors in establishing profitable recycling fundraisers. Since several companies offer ink cartridge fundraiser programs, a teacher or responsible parent will want to research how each one operates and compare the various opportunities for receiving either cash or reward points that can be traded in for other items. This information can be gained from looking at the company's website and reviewing its buy-back prices, shipping policies, and reward catalog. Most companies have a cash reward option, but will also offer other items that can be redeemed via a point system. Usually the company encourages the fundraising groups to redeem points rather than taking cash by offering items at what amounts to a discounted price. This way the fundraising group can redeem items in exchange for points that are of greater value than taking cash. Some companies offer technological items for schools, such as blank compact disks. Others have recreational items in their reward catalog that classes can "purchase" for the school.

To help children's classes conduct a successful ink cartridge fundraiser, some companies provide advertising materials to the school. In addition to flyers that advertise the rewards and incentives, the companies may provide sample letters for parents and potential corporate sponsors. The letter to the parents explains the program and encourages parents to assist the children in sending information about the fundraising initiative to businesses in the community. Corporate sponsors are asked to donate the office's used ink cartridges to the school children. Arrangements for picking up the donated cartridges will be explained in the letter to the potential sponsors. The enthusiastic cooperation of the children, parents, and the community will enable the school to reach fundraising goals and earn rewards for the classrooms. An ink cartridge fundraiser provides cartridge cases to entrepreneurs who sell refilled cartridges to consumers at reduced prices. The redemption value of the cases depends on that old market axiom of supply and demand. Popular printer cartridges are more highly valued because the demand for them is so high.

Other recycling fundraisers may require additional adult leadership. Nonprofit groups can work with community businesses to create drop-off points for the common recyclables of newspapers, aluminum, plastic, and glass. Containers or bins are needed for each type of recyclable that the group plans to collect. For the initiative to be a success, people living in the community will need to be made aware of the available drop-off points and what recyclables are being collected. Additional volunteers can form a marketing campaign to spread the news about the drop-off points and the fundraising initiative. Some advertising ideas include making up fliers (on recycled paper, of course), placing announcements in church bulletins and civic newsletters, putting up posters in storefronts, and requesting public service announcements on a local radio station. A successful recycling program will need volunteers to pick up the recyclables from each drop-off point on a regular basis. These volunteers will need training on how to properly handle the items, especially glass, in a safe manner. Some volunteers and appropriate vehicles will be needed to transport the recyclables from the drop-off points to the redemption centers where the cast-off cans and piles of papers can be exchanged for cash.

A specific initiative, such as an ink cartridge fundraiser, provides a fun way for children to learn the value of reusing products while gaining cash and rewards for the classroom. General recycling fundraisers not only provide nonprofit organizations with a way to raise money, but they also play an important component in the recycling cycle. The collected and redeemed recyclables are reformulated into raw materials that are used for innovative new products. Amazingly, glass can be used in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) and plastics can be turned into carpeting. When consumers purposely seek out and purchase recycled products, they contribute to the positive recycling cycle.

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