Commercial Director Angus Carnie said: “We have been aware for a long time that worldwide none of the printer manufacturers has a solution of the many thousands of tonnes of waste toner which remains in cartridges when returned.
“Printer cartridges are very recyclable but the toner powder is not and although there is perhaps only a few grammes left in each cartridge this equates to large quantities with the billions of cartridges sold each year.
“A completely new use had to be found for what is in essence a highly complex material. The staining element of toner powder was the original thought process behind this invention and in addition we wanted to develop a product which has social benefits too. Preventing vandalism or theft to property we feel ticks all the boxes.”
Anti-vandal, or anti-climb paint, is applied to walls and roofs on private property to deter trespassers by staining their skin and clothes.
The paint is said to be made from 100 percent waste material, including the toner. 300 Recycling says it is water resistant, with a lifespan of at least two years, and is environmentally friendly.
As reported by The Recycler, the company previously announced that toner also made an ideal solution for cleaning oil from water and could be useful with the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Carnie said toner powder turned oil solid, which can then be easily collected due to the powder’s magnetic nature.