Ink Recycling is now at SSFS!

Hate throwing out those nasty inkjet and laser cartridges and cell phones, knowing full well they are toxic additions to a landfill? Don't throw them out, recycle them at SSFS.

The school is now participating in the FundingFactory Recycling Program (http://fundingfactory.com/). This is a free fundraiser where there's nothing to sell, no paperwork to fill out, and no deadline. It runs year-round, accumulating constant income for our efforts. Please donate your empty printer cartridges and used cell phones to SSFS, and we'll take it from there. We will recycle the cartridges and cell phones through FundingFactory to earn either cash or technology and/or recreational equipment for our school.

Where are the collection boxes? Inkjet cartridges boxes are located in the Lower School lobby, the Middle School hall, in the Upper School office, and the Community House of the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting. The Lower School has a collection box for cell phones; the Upper School office has a collection box for laser cartridges.

What's the best way to send them in? Pop that cartridge in a ziplock bag and ask your child to drop it in the box. We'll take it from there. Please tell your children that they are doing the environment and the school a great service by helping out.

How do you know which cartridges they accept? Assume that they will accept everything-the list is long; or you can go to the web site and click on Qualifying Cartridges. Please note: Epson has signed an exclusive two-year contract with FundingFactory, so this is the only place you can recycle your Epson inkjet carts.

FundingFactory also sponsors a businesses support program, where your employer can help out SSFS without spending a cent. Prepaid shipping boxes can be sent, free of charge, directly to any business, organization or other facility. Business supporters simply need to load the boxes and leave them for the next UPS pickup. If you work for or own a company that may be interested in supporting us, please call FundingFactory toll-free at 1-888-883-8237. Give the customer service representative our school identification number-43293-and they'll set you up to support our account.

Last year alone, more than 300 million cartridges were thrown away, while 30,000,000 cell phones were tossed or replaced. With this program, not only the environment benefits but also SSFS.