How To Minimize Your Carbon Footprint When Buying Printer Ink Cartridges

2010-02-13

In recent years it has been proven that our planet is undergoing rapid changes as never before. Icebergs are melting, temperatures are rising and plant and animal species are facing new challenges and extinction. We must each do our part to reduce these drastic effects of our carelessness and excessive habits that are causing the production of waste at an astounding rate.

Each and every inhabitant of the earth produces what's called a "carbon footprint", or the direct result that one person's actions and daily life have on the environment in regards to harmful carbon dioxide emissions.

So what can you do to reduce your carbon footprint? Sure, there are the obvious things such as reducing, reusing and recycling, but did you know that something as small as a printer ink cartridge can make a huge impact? Each year, millions of printer ink cartridges all over the world are thrown away and wind up in landfills. Do not become one of the eight out of ten people that carelessly throw away a used ink cartridge without recycling. It is hard to believe the amount of impact that even one single printer ink cartridge has on the environment. According to cartridgeworld.com, (one of the world's largest ink cartridge recyclers) it takes a gallon of oil to make one new ink cartridge. A laser cartridge made of industrial grade plastics will take over a thousand years to decompose. These are just a few of the astonishing facts that can be found on their website. Their website is also a helpful resource in helping consumers and companies all over the world to become involved in ink recycling programs.

By recycling ink cartridges instead of throwing them away we are not only reducing the amount of trash that ends up landfills but we can create jobs all over the world. Another bonus of recycling ink cartridges is that you save money as most office supply chains will offer you a discount when you turn in your old cartridge and buy a new one. If we further educate ourselves, we can find that most manufacturer ink cartridges do not have to be thrown away at all, but can be refilled. When you properly refill an ink cartridge you are lengthening the life and quality of your printer. So remember, next time you are out of ink, think green, shop at a store that is involved in a cartridge recycling program in order to save money and support brands that are environmentally friendly.