(1)   Does the department have a policy regarding the use of remanufactured printer products as opposed to buying new ones; if so, does the department assess the cost and re-useability of the product as part of its decision-making in regard to the policy.

(2)   Does the department have a policy directive to use remanufactured printer products and, by doing so, lower the balance of payments through reducing imports.

(3)   What environmental standard has the department put in place in regard to the disposal of printer cartridges.

(4)   Is the Minster aware that several of the printer companies are now putting chips in printer cartridges so that they cannot be re-used.

(5)   Does the department have any contractual arrangements with Lexmark or Epson; if so, is the department party to any ‘Prebate’ program.

(6)   Does the department know what happens to the printer cartridges when they are empty.

(7)   With whom does the department hold a printer supply contract and what are the conditions of the contract.

(8)   How much does the department spend on printer cartridges each financial year.

(9)   Does the department use Planet Ark to recycle cartridges.

(10)   Does the department use foreign companies such as Corporate Express when purchasing printer cartridges.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

(1)   DVA has a policy of purchasing 50 per cent recycled paper for use in printers, but also allows the purchase of paper with no recycled content where required. DVA also actively supports the use of recycled toner cartridges through its participation in Planet Ark’s “Close-the-Loop” program, which recycles used toner cartridges for future use.

(2)   No.

(3)   DVA returns empty cartridges to Planet Ark via their “Close-the-Loop” program. This program is a certified zero-waste to landfill operation.

(4)   The cartridges in DVA’s current fleet of printers are not fitted with microchips however all of DVA’s devices read the serial numbers of the toner cartridges as part of their automated toner supply. I also understand that DVA is aware that some printer companies build microchips into their printer cartridges to reduce the use of third-party or refilled cartridges. The advice is that these cartridges can be reused by returning them to the original manufacturer.

(5)   Yes. DVA has a printer supply contract with Lexmark. Under this contract DVA pays on a per-page printed basis. The per-page cost is calculated to cover the use of toner, printer consumables, device lease and maintenance, and hence DVA is not a party to a prebate for toners as individual-cost items.

(6)   DVA returns empty cartridges to Planet Ark via their “Close-the-Loop” program and expects it to follow its published recycle/reuse procedures. It returns suitable cartridges to Lexmark for remanufacture. Unsuitable items are dismantled and the component parts are recycled. The Planet Ark “Close-the-Loop” program is a certified zero-waste to landfill operation.

(7)   DVA has an exclusive supply contract with Lexmark which monitors DVA’s devices and supply toner and other consumables when required.

(8)   DVA has a contract with Lexmark under which it is paid on a per-page printed basis. This covers the cost of toner, printer consumables, device lease and maintenance. The toner cartridges are not separate expense items.

(9)   Yes.

(10)   DVA’s printer supply contract is with Lexmark for its networked departmental fleet of printers.

Australian War Memorial (AWM)

(1)   No.

(2)   No.

(3)   AWM returns empty cartridges to Planet Ark via their “Close-the-Loop” program. This program is a certified zero-waste to landfill operation.

(4)   I understand that AWM is aware that some printer companies build microchips into their printer cartridges to reduce the use of third-party or refilled cartridges. The advice is that these cartridges can be reused by returning them to the original manufacturer.

(5)   No.

(6)   AWM returns empty cartridges to Planet Ark via their “Close-the-Loop” program and expects it to follow its published recycle/reuse procedures. The Planet Ark “Close-the-Loop” program is a certified zero-waste to landfill operation.

(7)   AWM has contracts with:

• Upstream for supply of two types of genuine HP toner cartridges per printer as required (total of 45 printers); and
• Toshiba for the supply of genuine toner supplied free of charge. AWM is then charged per print, dependant on print type (i.e. colour or black and white).

(8)   AWM spends approximately $50,000 on printer cartridges annually.

(9)   Yes.

(10)   AWM uses a range of suppliers for the provision of printer cartridges including Upstream and Toshiba as previously mentioned; Corporate Express to purchase ink for a few bubble jet printers; Harris Technology to purchase toner cartridges beyond what is supplied under the Upstream contract and Dell for the provision of ink for one off-site printer.