Defence: Printer Products

Senator Milne asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 14 July 2008:

1. Does the department have a policy regarding the use of remanufactured printer products as opposed to buying new ones; if so, does the department assess the cost and re-useability of the product as part of its decision‑making in regard to the policy.
2. Does the department have a policy directive to use remanufactured printer products and, by doing so, lower the balance of payments through reducing imports.
3. What environmental standard has the department put in place in regard to the disposal of printer cartridges.
4. Is the Minister aware that several of the printer companies are now putting chips in printer cartridges so that they cannot be re-used.
5. Does the department have any contractual arrangements with Lexmark or Epson; if so, is the department party to any ‘Prebate’ program.
6. Does the department know what happens to the printer cartridges when they are empty.
7. With whom does the department hold a printer supply contract and what are the conditions of the contract.
8. How much does the department spend on printer cartridges each financial year.
9. Does the department use Planet Ark to recycle cartridges.
10. Does the department use foreign companies such as Corporate Express when purchasing printer cartridges.

Senator Faulkner - The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

1. and (2) Defence does not have specific policy on the use of remanufactured printer products, however the Defence Procurement Policy Manual states:
   
   “Consistent with Commonwealth policy, when purchasing goods and/or services, procurement officers must give consideration to whether the goods and/or services:
   • meet environmental best practice in energy efficiency and/or consumption;
   • are environmentally sound in manufacture, use and disposal;
   • are reusable or recyclable;
   • are designed for ease of recycling, re-manufacture or to otherwise minimise waste; and
   • are designed and made for reliability, long life and/or easily upgraded or updated.”

3. Defence has in place a waste minimisation policy, and is currently implementing a national strategy to recycle toner cartridges as part of this policy.
4. I understand that Defence is aware that some printer companies build microchips into their printer cartridges to reduce the use of third-party or refilled cartridges.  The advice is that these cartridges can be reused by returning them to the original manufacturer.
5. No.
6. Printer cartridges are recycled when they are empty.
7. Defence does not have any current contracts with printer suppliers for single function printers and is procuring printers by requesting quotations from multiple suppliers and selecting a printer based on value for money, in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.
   
   Defence has a five-year contract with Konica Minolta for the lease of a range of multi-function devices.  The contract pricing covers fixed lease costs plus an impression cost "click" charge (ie per copy) and all maintenance and consumables, except paper but including toner cartridges.  The estimated total cost is around $27m. 
   
   Defence has strategic supplier arrangements in place with Corporate Express and Officemax for the supply of office requisites and janitorial products, including toner cartridges. 
8. Defence is unable to provide the amount spent on printer cartridges for multi-function devices as the cost is all inclusive (see part (7) above). Defence spent around $4.6m on printer cartridges, not including multi-function devices, in 2006-07.
9. A number of suppliers are used to provide recycling services for toner cartridges including Planet Ark.
10. Yes.

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