The cartridge collector and broker began in 1995 in the US, and is now part of Clover Imaging Group.
The company, Office Products Recycling Associates (OPRA), purchases empty inkjet and toner cartridges, mobile phones and “other small electronics”, and started in 1995 in Kansas City, Missouri as a “one-stop-shop for businesses looking to recycle empty printer cartridges. It added that as a small business it was “keenly aware of the cash flow issues many businesses face”, and so “made quick payment turnaround” into a “key element of its value proposition”.
In turn, it made sure that it “paired faster payment times with the industry’s only customer loyalty programme”, and over the years has expanded “purchasing power” into mobile phones, fusers, smartphones and small electronics.
In 2011, it was acquired by Clover as part of a “strategic acquisition to boost both companies’ buyback efforts”, doubling in size and achieving benefits such as “multiple inspection facilities, in-depth core knowledge about the industry” and further environmental certifications. The company stated that it has been 20 years “of putting customers first”, and has a “fully-featured website” where customers can sell empties, request collections and much more.
Angela Walton, Vice President at OPRA, commented: “Our customers know they can go elsewhere to sell their empties and electronics, but they also know that OPRA offers them the best terms, fastest payments, and a strong customer loyalty programme. We began as a small business in a 15,000 square foot facility in Kansas City and thanks to our customer loyalty and Clover we’re the industry leader in buyback.”