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HP long ago earned my support thanks to its commitment to recycling its used printer ink and toner cartridges and their use of recycled materials in producing new cartridges. But now they've gone a step further, with a major enhancement to their eco-efforts.

HP recently announced it has teamed with Staples to pilot a retail expansion of their recycling program. Under the program, customers can return their used ink cartridges to Staples stores instead of mailing them back to HP (the company includes free return envelopes with every new cartridge). HP says that this effort will result in huge material savings and improved efficiency: "If all ink cartridges returned via in-box envelopes in 2008 were instead returned in bulk from authorized retail recycling locations, the amount of shipping materials used would have been reduced by more than 600,000 pounds – enough to fill more than 15 tractor trailers." Meanwhile, HP says "Twice as many cartridges can ship in the same amount of space via bulk retail returns rather than individual envelopes."

This is just the first step. HP says it will name additional retail partners next year, so you don't need to drive all the way to a Staples store just to help make these efficiencies a reality.

HP has already recycled more than 250 million cartridges, and is also doubling the size of its recycling facility to accommodate demand. 

All of which reminds me: I just put a new cartridge in my inkjet printer, which means it's time to pop my old cartridge in the mail. HP, keep an eye out for it.