Choosing Photocopiers
Purchasing the right photocopier, with a good service agreement, will result in reduced paper use, air pollution and land-fill space. You also should consider if you can share a copiers with a neighbour or whether it is more cost effective to outsource your copying. .
The main considerations are:
- Choose the right capacity. E.g. copy speed & monthly volume.
- Only get the features you need – but look for opportunities to expand… Can you add paper-handling features such as document feeders and sorters?
- Compare your running costs of small copiers with larger capacity ones.
- Ask your supplier if they collect or refill or recycle toner cartridges.
- Look for
EnergyStar energy saving features – for example a power-down feature when the copier is not in use.
Ask for a duplexing unit (this can print on both sides of the paper).
Make sure you can use recycled paper in your copier.
Locate you copier away from workspaces to avoid ozone emissions.
Can the copier also print directly from a PC and act as a printer?
Find out if your manufacturer will recycle or remanufacture toner cartridges before you buy.
Think about buying a second-hand or reconditioned copier. They are far cheaper and often just as reliable for smaller volumes.
Getting rid of your old Photocopier
Contact the manufacturer first and see if they have a take back or recycling programme; contact the Recycling Operators of New Zealand ( www.ronz.org.nz) if they don’t.
Next time make sure your supplier takes it back for remanufacture and avoid the headache of dealing with old equipment.
Choosing a Printer
Choose a printer that is efficient with both ink (toner) and paper.
- Buy a printer with a long warranty - 3 years is recommended.
- Include a duplex (double-sided printing) facility to save paper.
- Look for printers that can print multiple pages per sheet (useful for printing presentations and large reports)
- Buy an EnergyStar Rated Printer.
- Make sure your ink (toner) cartridge can be refilled or remanufactured
- For colour printers a separate toner cartridge for each colour (red, yellow and cyan) may be cheaper to operate than a combined colour cartridge.
Hot tip: Generally laser printers are more expensive to buy but have a lower cost per page than ink-jet and bubble-jet printers. Cheaper running costs and less waste can be achieved when you buy a laser printer with long life print drum and also buy remanufactured cartridges.
Choosing a Fax
Fax machines are a common feature in any office. Faxing itself isn’t bad, they use minimal electricity; eliminate the need for envelopes, labels and stamps. It’s just how you fax that makes the difference.
Buy a plain paper fax machine as you can use Goose (Good on one-side) paper in them.
- Use a recycled fax paper
- Can you send and receive faxes direct from PC and avoid the need for a fax machine altogether? (Often an old PC can be re-used as a fax server)
- Design small cover sheet or don’t use one at all!
Improve Indoor Air Quality & Reducing Electromagnetic Fields
Buy products that have low or no formaldehyde, trichloroethylene or benzene in them.
Put air cleaning plants in your office some of the recommended indoor varieties are: Peace Lilly, Dracina, mother-in-law’s tongue, English ivy, Chinese fern, parlour palms. If you have more light then choose spider plants or flowering plants (e.g. chrysanthemums or azaleas)
Ensure sufficient air exchange through good ventilation. No matter how hard you try there will always be indoor air pollutants. It is important that they can escape from the building. (Contact BRANZ for information on Building code regulations)
Use cleaning agents that are low in volatile organic content (check out the product label for VOC content)
For those concerned about electromagnetic fields, (these are created by any electricity – copiers, computers etc.), consider the following:
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