Understanding the Proper Way to Dispose and Recycle Ink Cartridges
Recycling is not a fad. Did you know that more than 375 million ink and toner cartridges are thrown away each year? That means every single day, one million people are throwing away ink cartridges that end up in landfills or incinerators. And all it would take to change these statistics is a little education on how to properly dispose of and recycle ink cartridges.
That’s where we come in! Disposing of ink cartridges in the right way doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing. We fully understand that many people don’t even realize you can recycle ink cartridges. Most electronic components contain lead, mercury, cadmium, phosphors, and other harmful compounds that make recycling difficult. Fortunately, almost all printer cartridge materials can be recycled.
4 Ways You Can Easily Recycle Ink Cartridges
While we understand recycling some electronics can seem like a major headache, recycling old ink cartridges is relatively simple. Plus, recycling your empty ink and toner cartridges can sometimes provide you with additional benefits for future purchases. It’s a win-win if you think about it.
Take Empty Cartridges to a Local Retailer
Many office supplies stores make it easy for customers to recycle old ink and toner cartridges directly in the store. They often encourage customers to recycle cartridges by offering a rewards program for future purchases in the store. If you print frequently and live near an office supplies store, this is probably the way to go.
Return Old Ink Cartridges to the Manufacturer
If you order your ink cartridges directly from the manufacturer or a seller of only genuine replacement cartridges, many come with a returnable envelope. Having an envelope makes it easy to return your cartridges directly to the manufacturer when they are empty. If you don’t have a returnable envelope, simply visit the HP, Brother, or Canon website.
Refill Your Empty Toner or Ink Cartridges
One way to recycle your old cartridges is to reuse them. Most empty cartridges can be refilled, and you should find out by visiting the manufacturer’s website. It’s important to understand it can be a messy process to do yourself, so it’s best to take the empty cartridges to a professional retailer for refilling.
Visit Your Local Recycling Center
While you may not want to make a special trip to the recycling center just to dispose of old ink cartridges, it could be worth the trip. Before you go, make sure to look through your house or apartment for any other items that could be recycled as well.
Why is properly disposing of ink cartridges so important? The materials used to make ink and toner cartridges can be harmful to human health and our environment. Since printer cartridges are made of a complex combination of plastic, metal, foam, ink, and toner, it’s not easy to separate these items in a way that makes them safe to recycle. By doing your part to get these used ink cartridges in the right hands, you can be confident you are doing your part to protect the environment and to prevent millions of cartridges from ending up in landfills every day.
Looking for other ways to help the planet?
When you shop Ink Genie for genuine ink cartridges, you have the option to purchase ink in perfect retail boxes, blemished boxes, or sometimes no box at all. These options allow you to purchase brand-name ink and toner at better prices while also helping to prevent more cardboard from ending up in a landfill.
You can also sell your new, unused or unwanted ink or toner cartridges to Ink Genie through the Ink Genie BuyBack Program.
Find High-Quality Ink and Toner Supplies at Ink Genie
Ink Genie® is one of the leading ink and toner suppliers to businesses, government institutions, schools, and homes in the country. We have thousands of customers that we consider part of our family and always offer them our best service, satisfaction, and savings! Shop for OEM ink and toner cartridges from top brands, including Brother, Epson, HP, Canon, and more. Learn more about Ink Genie and shop our selection of name-brand ink cartridges and toners.
