A WORK placement in the colourful world of inkjet cartridges has earned Fenland student Eliza Cousins the accolade of top Shell Step student in Norfolk. The 21-year-old Durham University economics undergraduate is spending 13 weeks with KMP Crusader, of

A WORK placement in the colourful world of inkjet cartridges has earned Fenland student Eliza Cousins the accolade of top Shell Step student in Norfolk.

The 21-year-old Durham University economics undergraduate is spending 13 weeks with KMP Crusader, of King's Lynn, helping the company to make efficiencies in the re-manufacturing of used cartridges.

She told the judges at the Norfolk finals of the Shell Step awards at the University of East Anglia's Sportspark last Thursday that about 65 million ink jet cartridges were sold in the UK in 2003 and only 10 per cent of these were recycled. Analysts say cartridges can be reused up to seven times and the market in re-manufactured units was potentially massive, she added.

Eliza, who lives at Walpole St Peter, was asked by KMP Crusader to look at manufacturing methods with a view to making cost savings. She will submit her final report to the company at the end of September.

INFORMATION: The Shell Step programme provides second-year undergraduates with an eight to 13-week paid placement at a company or organisation, working on a clearly defined project.