What about taking a retired printer to a toy library or children’s play centre? My nearest toy library has furnished play areas for children: a supermarket(where my pensioned off, clapped-out calculator gets used as pretend check-out till), a dressing up corner (with pensioned-off clothes, bags, shoes, hats) a kitchen, a clinic, etc. What about a offering goods for a play office, where little ones can play ‘office office’? Kids then get to play with grown-up things that are often out of bounds. I guess one must make sure the items are clean and have no sharp bits poking out.

Sadly, I’m in the same boat as you. I already ditched my last printer and already this one seems to be on its last leg. I have decided to print all my photos at the drug store since it is actually cheaper that way anyway, but I’m kinda stuck when it comes to printing recipes and stuff. The are designed to break. I would like to figure out a way to do something useful with the machine so that it is valuable again.

Printers are very desirable for geeks, do-it-yourselfers, tinkerers, and others who make electronic things. They have all sorts of parts– motors, switches, lights, wires, connectors,etc–that can be extracted and given a new life. If you have any friends of this sort, ask ‘em.

how to refill

I work for a non-profit that has started an electronic recycling program, LCI Recycles. For more information about the services we provide you can visit our website, www.lcirecycles.com, or you can contact me directly: 919-596-8277 ext. 175. We have Computer Recycling Drives the last Friday of every Month from 10am-2pm. You could bring it by then! 4500 Emperor Blvd, Durham, NC 27703

Donate it to local Science Center.