Refiller drums up green feelings with liquid ink

What: Printer ink and toner cartridge refilling and replacement service.

Company: Liquid Seven

Location: 504 W. Manning St.

How it's green: "To refill is to reuse and to recycle," said owner Jon Fitch, adding that when the cartridges are no longer usable, they are recycled instead of ending up in a landfill. New ink cartridges also take 2.5 ounces of oil to produce, so refilling an existing cartridge also can cut down on oil use, he said.

How long will it last: The number of times a cartridge can be refilled varies on the brand and how well the cartridge has been treated, Fitch said. On average, a cartridge can be refilled about eight times, he said.

Why do it this way? Aside from the environmentally friendly aspect of refilling cartridges, the practice can save customers up to 50 percent of the cost of a new cartridge, Fitch said. Liquid Seven can refill cartridges from personal printers as well as larger, business printers.

Advice for others considering green initiatives: It all boils down to providing the customer with education about your product or service, he said. "Education is the key factor. You've got to show it to people, especially if it's something they were not previously aware of," he said.

Is environmentalism an essential part of the business and why? "Environmentalism is definitely what I focus on," Fitch said. "Being green is good for the environment, but it's also good for a lot of businesses."

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