A Genius Idea

I bought a new printer today at BestBuy. At the checkout, the cashier told me there was an $8 “Environmental Handling Fee” from the government. I couldn’t say no to that, as I did to the extended warranty charge, because it was government regulation. BUT... WTH! It was more than 11% of my printer’s price. 8 bucks plus tax for what? Cartridge disposal? What or whom do we pay for with that? It is modern technology (which somehow we all paid for) that invented this machine and now we need to pay extra to use it because there is something wrong with using it? I don’t think we can save the environment through this, as long as people don’t bother taking the cartridge to the disposal box, or they keep ferociously clicking the printing button on one-sided paper without a second thought... What a brilliant idea by the politicians -- I just graciously paid $8 ENVIRONMENTAL HANDLING FEE!