The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) raises money through recycling toner cartridges donated by businesses.
Darlington and Stockton Times reported on the GNAAS’ trading company, which recycles toner cartridges, textiles and mobile phones donated by the public and businesses “to turn used goods into hard cash” for the charitably-funded ambulance service.
The newspaper notes that one organisation, Middlesbrough College, has recycled its toner cartridges with the charity for “more than 10 years”, and last year donated hundreds of cartridges, which ended up earning the GNAAS around £500 ($805/€596). The trading company for GNAAS donates 100 percent of the profits its makes to the charity, as well as offering “confidential shredding, textile recycling and mobile phone recycling” to businesses and consumers alike.
Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, stated: “Every cartridge the charity receives goes directly towards life-saving missions. Recycling these empty cartridges is easy; it saves energy, is environmentally beneficial and helps keep our aircraft flying.
“It really is that simple. Many people and businesses in the region have taken the charity to their heart and we could not do without their support. We are always keen to form new partnerships.”