Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have found a way to turn waste plastics into functional carbon “microspheres,” Chemical & Engineering News reports.

Carbon microspheres are small particles that can be used to make tires, paint, lubricants and — you guessed it — toner.

The scientists are targeting some of the most commonly thrown away plastic products, including grocery bags and polystyrene cups.

No word on when the process will be used to make commercial goods, but when it happens, it could be good news for the environment — and toner prices.

The technology is being pioneered by two companies: a US firm called Fiberight and a Danish company called Novozymes.

According to a USA Today report:

“Fiberight takes office waste and pulps, treats and washes it. It then uses enzymes from Novozymes  to convert the  fluffy substance, rich in cellulose, into sugars that are fermented into ethanol.” A mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85) can power current automobiles with small adjustments (using so called flex fuel technology).

Apparently, American offices create enough paper trash to generate 8 billion gallons of trashanol a year.  Fiberight has bought an ethanol factory in Iowa and is about to gear up.  The use of paper waste is far more economical than using corn –- most of the waste will otherwise just take up space in landfills, and chauffeuring it around would require a lot of gasoline.

In addition rebates, most manufacturers and vendors will supply no-cost return mailers. Staples, Office Depot and OfficeMax, for example, have made most ink cartridges they sell returnable, at $3 worth of coupons in exchange. Also, many corporations and government agencies have given a high priority to recycling them.

But a recent survey by Cartridge World USA shows that people are still throwing these toxic products in the trash, at a growing rate.  Some 70% of all used ink cartridges end up being tossed out. And the number of trashed cartridges is growing at 12% a year, 250 million is the U.S. alone.

While the chemicals in most inks are only mildly toxic, the heavy metals used in the cartridges are as poisonous as those of most electronic components. In our throw-away society the convenience of tossing ink away seems to be worth more than a few dollars and any concern for the health of our water supply.

The mountain of e-waste is reaching Everest proportions. And businesses trying to recycle face some tough obstacles.

E-waste is the accumulation of obsolete computers, printers, cell phones, and other electronic gear that the fast-moving tech sector is producing at ever growing rate.

The U.S. alone generated over three million tons of the stuff in 2007, according to the EPA (that’s the most recent estimate). Only 13.6% of it was recycled.

A few vendors of copiers, printers and PCs are at last starting to take some responsibility for the recycling of their products . But in too many cases, the electronic gizmos, along with their toxic chemicals (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, just to name a few of the tastier ingredients), end up in land fills.

Even if your company wants to keep from adding to the problem, there are serious obstacles. While a number of start-ups have made a business of hauling off such outmoded equipment, there is a spotty record of dishonest dealing and secret dumping, along with mass exporting of e-waste for unhealthy and dangerous disassembly by child and convict-labor in Third World countries. And there are no government regulations for this booming trade.

One attempt to solve this problem is the e-Stewards Standard (for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment).

These standards, monitored by a nonprofit group, hold “participating e-recyclers to a set of high standards including a ban on export, land dumping, incineration, and use of prison labor for toxic components.” The group recommends that corporations and government bodies use only those recyclers who have complied with standard. The site offers a state-by-sate guide to certified recyclers.

Other alternatives: Goodwill Industries will recondition and resell donated e-equipment. Best Buy has a recycling program for electronic junk.

And a number of electronics manufacturers have a take-back program. They are listed here.

Dean Klein worked for J.P. Morgan Chase from 1980 until 2005, when he was fired after being caught allegedly talking empty toner cartridges home, selling them to a recycling service and pocketing the money.

But Klein, who was a manager at the time he was fired, claims the company was acting on a false tip from another employee who was trying to clear the way for her own advancement.

He says Morgan Chase fired him without conducting a thorough investigation, never gave him chance to defend himself and refused to give him a copy of the employee handbook that might spell out what he rule he broke.

He’s suing his ex-employer for wrongful termination and breach of contract.

How significant is the financial sum involved in this dispute? Staples, for example, offers $3 in store credit per cartridge, so over a long enough period of time, it can add up.

Take the progress HP has made with recycling. The company estimates it recovers 50-70% of the plastic in each cartridge it recycles, ZD-Net reports. And where’s all that plastic going?

A lot of it is used to make new cartridges. But HP’s also found another appropriate use: building printers.

For example, the printhead for the Photosmart D5460 is, on average, made of 55% recycled material. Most of the plastic is taken from cartridges collected through HP’s Planet Partners program.

The new product from Tokyo-based shredder-manufacturer Nakabayashi lets companies recycle paper in- office – and turn it into toilet paper.

Sounds like smart waste management (and a way to let employees show how they really feel about memos from management). But there are some catches:

Scheduled to be sold in Japan in August, the large machine will run for about $95,000. And it takes two hours and 16 lbs of paper (or about 1,800 A4 sheets) to create two rolls of TP. No word on the operating costs, but weighing in at 1,300 lbs, the device probably doesn’t skimp on power usage.

Right now, there are still better (if not as exciting) ways to recycle.

It’s true that some vendors have a cartridge return program where they can re-use or recycle them, but many do not. It’s especially bad on the off-brand toner and ink market. What’s an eco-conscientious user to do?

Now a UK recycling company called Waycam has an idea – they use a process that transforms cartridges into a plastic called TRI Wood, and then turn it into fence posts and garden furniture.

While the furniture aspect is a great stunt, the serious issue, as they acknowledge, is recycling the (highly toxic) used toner. It’s another step in the effort to keep more toxins out of landfills. This kind of thing is becoming increasingly a legal necessity in Europe, and it is something that should spread in the near future to the US.