Go mobile for recycling

HERE'S a worthy home for printer cartridges and upgraded mobile phones.

Rather then bin them or abandon them in the back of the desk drawer, you could get in touch with Oxfam Ireland.

They'll collect this waste and hand it over to Redeem, who recover all products that can be reused.

Anything leftover is recycled, and if neither of these options is possible they use the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) for waste disposal. Most mobiles are repaired and sold on as working phones and those beyond repair have all precious metals extracted, and any remaining materials smelted for energy recovery.

All printer cartridges collected through Oxfam's Recycling Appeal are sold to remanufacturers who recondition and refill the product to sell to consumers as an environmentally friendly option.

Just 50 used toner cartridges and five used mobiles could fund a month's worth of teaching for children who wouldn't otherwise be able to go to school.

So now you have ethical and ecological motivation to get your company behind this initiative.

See www. oxfamireland. org or call 1890 60 60 65.

If the shoe fits. . .

WORN Again shoes are fashioned from 99% recycled fabrics including prison blankets, car seats and reclaimed jeans.

Pictured are these very funky Womble trainers, retailing for about 100. Available from Zenith, Savoy Centre, Cork or on line at www. wornagain. co. uk.