Recycling functions on the principal of three R's. Reduce, re-use, re-cycle.


It basically means using existing materials to produce new products, thereby preventing wastage of resources. Some beneficial effects of recycling are lesser air and water pollutions, lower greenhouse gas productions. For proper recycling to occur, used products need to be discarded properly. In Europe, for e.g, recycling norms are strictly maintained. There are separate bins for discarding, paper, plastic, glass, bio-degradables, used batteries etc.


But here's an interesting fact. Did you know that some companies buy recyclable products? Rapid Refill, an US based company buys used printer cartridges, and pays cash in return.


Ulysse Berneau, an exceptional boy from Fontainebleau, used this very means to raise funds for a village in Togo. Here is his story...


S.O.S pour L'Afrique



7 year old Ulysse Berneau learnt about Togo from his grandmother. He made it a mission to help the children in a village called Kpédiké. With the help of his family and friends, he set up "S.O.S pour L'Afrique", a humanitarian organisation that regularly collects funds for the children of this village. For the past 4 years, the organisation has sent money to Togo to provide for school supplies like text books, pencils, colors, notebooks, rulers. In association with Ecole Internationale de Vinci, printer cartridges are currently being collected to raise funds in order to construct a school in Yotogodo.

Please visit their blog for details (in french).


This is the only link I could find in India, that buys used cartridges. Worth exploring...