BURY Hospice has launched a major initiative that will turn unwanted junk into an important source of funding.

Every year millions of used ink jet and laser printer cartridges, together with old mobile phones, are thrown away. But the hospice in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, has linked up with a recycling company which will turn the waste into money.

To launch the scheme, members of Bury Soroptimists have already been saving cartridges and presented the £100 they raised to Mervyn Reeves, fund-raising manager for the hospice.

He said: "Simply by not throwing away what is thought of as spent, these ladies have raised enough to keep the whole hospice operating for an hour. Just think what could be achieved if the companies of Bury rallied round as well as the local home computer owners."

He is hoping that others will follow suit and to make it easier the hospice has arranged for six drop off sites across the borough where cartridges can be left.

To get information on where to leave cartridges and phones, obtain freepost postal bags or arrange for the hospice to collect them, you should phone 797 1748.