GREENING HOLIDAY PHOTOS

by Paul Tick

In the United States, 80 million ounces of silver are used each year in photographs - equal to the total output of the world's two largest silver mines (source: Sierra magazine). Used fixer, the solution that washes extra silver from the photos, has a higher concentration of silver than the Environmental Protection Agency's threshold for hazardous solid waste. Often it goes straight down the drain. Recently, some processors have begun recovering silver voluntarily, and some areas have set local laws mandating silver recovery.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to know if your photo processor recovers its silver, especially if you use a chain store where the store clerk may not know about the photo processing. In a chain store, even when local regulations exist, the photos may be sent to a central processing plant - in a region without regulations!

Since holiday time is photo time, here are some steps to make the holidays a bit greener:

1. Choose a processor that reclaims silver.
2. Save on chemicals and paper by ordering smaller-size prints.
3. Think twice before using a processor that offers free double-prints or very low-cost developing. Do you really need two of every photo? Ask yourself if price should be your main guide on where to shop.
4. Be selective in what you photograph! Remember Kodak's poor environmental records.
5. Don't buy disposable cameras.
6. Recycle plastic film canisters.
7. Save batteries for a hazardous waste collection day, or call local officials to find out how batteries are best disposed of in your area. Do not toss them into the garbage - dangerous chemicals will leech into the groundwater from the landfill.

The jury is out on whether using digital cameras, or pictures-on-disc, is an improvement from an environmental viewpoint. While digital cameras do eliminate chemicals from the processes, the technology used in creating computer chips is highly toxic, and it's a water waster. And if you use a laser printer, the chemicals are a problem for the ozone layer and global warming.

Shutter Speed Photo offers HWFC members a 10% discount on processing. Shutter Speed reclaims its silver and customers' camera batteries, and the plastic containers that carry film are recycled. The store is also used by local photographers as gallery space. Visit the recently expanded store at 281 New Scotland, between Quail and Ontario Streets, in Albany.

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