Save Paper, Ink with Free Software

jplatt — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0400

How many times have you gone to print a document or web page and ended up with one or more useless pages at the end of your print job? What a waste of paper and ink! Well, there is a solution, and it's not only easy -- it's free.

GreenPrint World is a free program you can download and use to help put a stop to those unwanted printed pages. The program analyzes your print job, then lets you decide what elements to print and which ones to skip (say, photographs, or the legal disclaimers at the bottom of a web page). It keeps track of how many pages you don't print, allowing you to "track your impact" (how much paper you have used, or how much ink you have saved) and monitor your overall printing habits.

You can also use GreenPrint World to generate PDFs of any document, allowing you to keep a digital copy of a web page instead of printing it at all.

Available since 2006, this new version of GreenPrint is now free for the first time, although it includes less features than the $35 Premium edition, and is supported by advertising, which appears fairly unobtrusively on the program's interface while your print job is being analyzed to see how much paper you can save.

By releasing this free version of its program, GreenPrint Technologies has announced that they hope to save "100 million trees and reduce greenhouse gases by 300 million tons globally." Pretty lofty goals -- and ones worth applauding.

Recycle Those Electronics!

jplatt — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:11:08 -0400

Recycling electronics is quickly becoming big business, which means more options are finally opening to consumers looking to trade in their old computers, monitors, cell phones, printer cartridges and the like.

The U.S. Post Office this week announced it is starting a trial program (initially available in 10 cities), where you can pick up a pre-paid envelope and mail in your electronics for free recycling. Their partner in this program, Clover Technologies Group, has a "zero landfill" policy and unlike other companies doesn't outsource its work oversees, where recycling of high-tech devices has a tendency to create terrible pollution.

The Post Office isn't alone. For example, Staples stores collect all kinds of electronics for recycling. The stores charge a $10 fee to recycle larger devices (like monitors, which aren't eligible for the Post Office's program), but smaller peripherals are recycled at no charge.

Of course, you could always embrace the old mantra of "reduce, reuse, recycle" and donate your old electronics. Cell phones are particularly good fundraisers for many organizations. The old phones are refurbished and given to people who need them, often in the developing world, where they can help create economic opportunities.

No matter what you do, try to avoid just throwing your old electronics out. The long-term damage far outweighs the convenience of your garbage can.

Want to find out more about recycling?

Recycling Tips: Did You Know You Cannot Recycle Messy Pizza Boxes?

The Benefits of Recycling: Let’s Talk Trash

Recycling the Looking Glass: When Garbage and Art Collide

Top 10 Recycling Resources

Recycled Record Snack Tray

The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard

The Art of Garbage

Reduce, Reuse… FREECYCLE

Back to Basics—RRR

Picking Up Garbage TVs and Recycling as Art

Students Recycle and Reduce Garbage: Take It Or Leave It

Knight Rider Recycled—Reborn With Green Twist!

Recycling Your Garbage: Where Does it All Go?

toxic

Save Paper, Ink with Free Software

Recycle Those Electronics!