It’s Not Easy Being Green

Frank Ali is the owner of Ink Invasions and has been helping New Yorkers recycle ink and toner cartridges for almost four years. His love for recycling is evident in the following article, describing a day in the life of his recycling company.

I have been in this business for sometime now. I am proud to say that with help from local units of the Boy Scouts of America, several civic and cultural institutions and the hundreds of local businesses of all sizes, Ink Invasion has kept almost 100,000 empty inkjet and toner cartridges out of local landfills. Though this number brings me satisfaction, I get more from daily interactions with my customers. Take Jerry for instance . . .

I saw Jerry as soon as I turned into the parking lot Monday morning. Easily in his 80’s he always had on a hat and sunglasses along with his bright white Reeboks.

I love this guy. One HP 56 refill every two months (he is addicted to the crosswords). He uses a lot of ink because of the large typeface so I only charge him for every other refill. Today, as I unlock the gates Jerry notices the battery recycling box in the front window.

“Oh, I didn’t know you recycled batteries Frank,” he said.

“Just started last week,” I told him as I tried to hide a smile (the old guy was as sharp as a tack; he didn’t miss anything).

“Good, you’ll save me a walk over to BestBuy.”

Jerry reached into his windbreaker pocket and pulled out two neatly wrapped AA batteries and tossed them in the box. The way he smiled at me, you’d think he just got nothing but net from the top of the key at the buzzer, and I think I was smiling wider than he was.

Now if Jerry was willing to walk almost a half mile to recycle two AA batteries, and always buys recycled cartridges for his printer, maybe, just maybe there is hope for us yet.

As Jerry left with a free inkjet and an empty windbreaker pocket, I figured the day was off to a pretty good start.

Almost on cue, the phone rang. It was the buyer from our local paper recycling company, Pratt Paper, calling to ask about starting a battery recycling program at its plant which produces 1,000 tons of recycled paper a day.

My first thought was to look for the hidden camera, but it was all on the up and up, and within 10 minutes on a dreary Monday morning:

1. I had helped to keep Jerry good for another 75 or so large font crosswords
2. A couple of batteries were diverted from our local landfill (the former Fresh Kills Landfill, at one time, the largest in the world)
3. I saved Jerry an hour’s round trip back and forth to BestBuy
4. I’d established a battery recycling program with a major local enterprise

You know, sometimes it ain’t easy being green, but other times it ain’t so hard either.

Ink Invasion is Staten Island’s only inkjet and toner recycling center at 456 Nome Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314. Frank can be reached at 718-494-7240.