The Effect Of Discarded Printer Ink Cartridges On The Environment

2010-08-23

Discarded printer ink cartridges can have a hazardous long-term effect on the environment. The materials that house printer ink cartridges are one factor, as well as the ink itself being another factor that can be potentially hazardous to the earth. Additionally, the packing for printer ink cartridges often consists of plastic wrap, which can take years to decompose.

The material in which discarded printer ink is housed can cause problems to the environment. The plastic material takes decades, if ever, to decompose which means that the plastic material itself can be a risk to wildlife that may mistake it for food. Additionally, the presence of these plastic materials can also clog and destroy natural habitats for animals, which can erode the quality of life and source of food for animal wildlife. This effect is often noticed in streams, rivers and waterways where plastic floats to the surface and ends up contaminating the water for many of the indigenous inhabitants. Since ink is housed in these plastic containers, the ink also finds its way into the soil and into waterways that may also pollute the ecosystem for wild animals.

Another effect that discarded printer ink has on the environment is that as more and more printer ink cartridges become piled into landfills, they take up more space. The sheer volume of the printer ink cartridges becomes an issue when landfill space has quickly become a premium due to the number of materials that take decades, if ever, to decompose. Plastics do not decompose easily, as compared to biodegradable materials such as paper, so devoting more land to landfills can pose health consequences to people and damage the environment long term. Land areas designated as landfills can pose serious damage to the soil for many generations as that land cannot be used and converted into livable space.

Discarded printer ink cartridges and their effects on the environment are important to understand because it is part of a more serious issue- how the environment is becoming contaminated with chemicals and non-biodegradable materials. The ever-growing size of landfills continues to be a problem, as space is running out, and as landfills contaminate the soil they take up. Plastic materials from discarded printer ink cartridges also find their way into natural habitats of animals that can disrupt their ecosystems and harm wildlife. The effects of discarded printer ink cartridges not only compounded over time, but are far-reaching and cyclical in nature. It doesn't just effect the environment for one year, but for many generations to come with negative effects that snowball into larger, more global problems such as health risks, contamination and lack of livable space.