Best Methods in Recycling Ink and Toner Cartridges
About 375 million ink and toner cartridges end up in landfills in the United States alone. Statistically, about eight ink and toner cartridges are thrown away every second. Materials used to manufacture these cartridges take 450 years to decompose. If we continue throwing cartridges irresponsibly, it will have harmful effects on nature and us humans. This is why responsible waste disposal is important.
Why do we have to start making changes to our waste disposal habits? What harm can it do to us if we don’t start this change? Dumping electronics, including ink and toner cartridges in landfills, may contaminate the groundwater or soil. Atmospheric pollution can be caused by burning or crushing these electronics. The good thing is, almost 100% of the components from the cartridges can be recycled.
Here are some methods on how you can recycle cartridges and help lessen the negative effects of irresponsible waste disposal:
• Have it recycled through the Original Equipment Manufacturer
Ink and toner manufacturers often have a recycling program. Free take-back programs are commonly offered by most major ink and toner manufacturers. Some examples are HP Instant Ink offered by HP, wherein you will have a prepaid recycling plan, Epson Recycling Program, Lexmark Return Program cartridges, and many more. You may visit their websites to know more about their recycling programs.
• Take your ink and toner cartridges at any office supply stores
Taking your empty ink and toner cartridges to any office supply store is another alternative in disposing of them. Try checking the websites of any office supply store in your areas such as OfficeDepot, Staples, Target, and many more. Most of them willingly take back used original or genuine toner and ink cartridges and recycle them instantly.
• Let a recycling facility do the recycling of your toner and ink cartridges
You can drop your used toner and ink cartridges at any local recycling facility near your area. Most of the recycling facilities take a lot of stuff, including toner and ink cartridges. You may check websites such as https://everycartridge.com/us/, evolverecycling.com, https://www.inkrecycling.org/, and many more.
• Think about refilling them yourself
You can consider refilling your used original brand ink and toner cartridges. Most of them can be refilled & reused a few times. Just make sure that you use the appropriate ink refill kits that can be bought at any online retailer, you may check this link: https://www.compandsave.com/ink-refill-bulk-ink if you want to shop or know more about ink refill kits.
Ink capacities and refill instructions differ in every cartridge type and brand, so ensure that you purchase a refill kit specified for your cartridge series. Refill kits usually include a bottle of ink, a syringe, and step-by-step refilling instructions. To avoid potential damage to your cartridges, always follow the instructions included in the refill kit. Keep in mind that you can only reuse or refill your ink and toner cartridges a few times. Their print quality will eventually diminish, so you will have to buy brand new ink and toner cartridges. Nonetheless, this alternative is also an excellent way to recycle.
• Shop for remanufactured or replacement type of cartridges
Remanufactured or replacement cartridges are designed to meet or even exceed the OEM specifications. These cartridges are made from recycling old empty cartridges, including disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling cartridges that could’ve ended in the landfills.
You can save money from buying a compatible or remanufactured cartridge. It lets you save for about half the price of a new OEM cartridge. Don’t hesitate to take a lot at different quantities to find the price break that suits you best.
If you’re worried about the warranty, please note that using remanufactured ink or toner cartridges will never void your printer’s warranty. If you want to shop for remanufactured or replacement cartridges, you may visit this website: https://www.compandsave.com/.
To sum it up, these are just a few steps we can do to help save our planet and natural resources not only for us but also for future generations to come.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions. Looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some great deals on printer ink and accessories! Remember to follow our blog for more interesting printing-related tips and guides.
About the Author
Jomar Samudio is one of the Search Engine Optimization specialists in CompAndSave. CompAndSave is located in Union City, California, and is a retailer and wholesaler of printing supplies. Starting as a Customer Service Representative for CompAndSave, Jomar has a wide array of knowledge about printers, ink, and toner cartridges, which can help people get better insights and understanding about printers and cartridges. Jomar knows the importance of great Customer Service, so he is here to provide thorough details about frequently asked questions regarding printers and cartridges.
