How To Safely Dispose Of Printer Ink Cartridges

2010-09-27

Rather than just dumping printer ink cartridges into a garbage bin, do something good for the environment by recycling them. Printer ink cartridges consist of metal and plastic materials, all of which are recyclable. The printer ink itself carries toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, proper ink disposal and cartridge recycling should be performed not only to reduce harmful emissions but to conserve non-renewable resources as well.

Before recycling or disposing of an ink cartridge, you must first careful remove it from the printer. For proper ink disposal, stow the cartridge in the appropriate plastic container, preferably the packing material that it came in. Store it in a cool dry place until you are ready to dispose of it.

One option for discarding your empty cartridge is to return it to the company you bought it from. If your cartridge is from an online distributor or an office supply store, contact them and inquire about recycling options. There are companies that will even simplify this procedure by providing the pre-paid box for return shipping.

You could also contact a commercial recycling company or local office supply store that specializes in re-manufacturing used toner ink cartridges. They may even conduct their own recycling programs for empty printer ink cartridges. Participate in them and you may be given money or credit in return, so rather than simply placing your used ink cartridge in a pre-paid box for recycling, join a recycling program for a much greener act.

Another option is to sell your used printer ink cartridges. If it is still in good shape -no dents or scratches, you can sell your empty cartridge to a re-manufacturing company. Before selling it however, choose a company that intends to recycle them in the future.

A great way to dispose of empty print cartridges is through local charities that conduct recycling programs for a cause. Charities, schools, and other social institutions will set-up drop boxes where you can donate your used cartridges. Online charity programs are also available and allow you to ship cartridges to them directly at no expense to you. Participating in such programs is ideal for two reasons. One, you are doing something green by keeping your cartridge away for landfills and two, the charitable groups will use the proceeds from these cartridges to help fund special causes.

So, when the time comes to replace your empty printer ink cartridge, protect the environment by recycling and purchasing green cartridges particularly, the re-manufactured ones. They are not only less expensive and eco-friendly, but they work just as effectively as the company manufactured ones.