InkJet Cartridge Recycling Programs

Recycle your InkJet cartridges!

You have heard me mention InkJet Cartridge Recycling in some of my previous posts such as different ways to recycle and recycling 101, but I felt this issue needed a little more depth.

Fay Salmons is a wealth of information when it comes to InkJet cartridge recycling.  She wrote this fantastic article that I wanted to share with you that not only explains why recycling your cartridges are important, but also how you can go about doing so.  Our landfills are filling up fast, and so many of the materials taking up this valuable space are avoidable.

So this leads us to the question…

Why InkJet Cartridge Recycling?

Of all the different ways to recycle, InkJet Cartridge Recycling efforts of giant printing supplies companies are really a great help to the environment. By taking out used cartridges from the hands of consumers, manufacturers reduce the amount of plastic materials thrown on landfills. Actually, there are plenty of reasons why you should support InkJet cartridge recycling programs and it’s up to you to take the necessary steps.

An ink cartridge, or printer cartridge, is a small casing unit that contains ink and is specifically built to fit into the printer equipment. When your printer runs out of ink, you can either replace the cartridge or refill it with new ink at refilling stations. The ink component of the cartridge is considered harmful to the environment because it contains toxic chemicals, such as petroleum.

InkJet Cartridge Recycling Is Necessary!

Millions of ink cartridges and toner cartridges are thrown on landfills each year in the U.S. alone. Both the ink and casing unit of the printing cartridge is toxic to the environment. The ink contains toxic chemicals, like petroleum, while the casing is made from polymer plastic, which is a non-biodegradable material. To save our environment from further destruction, we need to support recycling efforts by returning or purchasing reusable ink cartridges, or recycling InkJet Cartridges.

There are actually several manufacturers of printing supplies that keep recycling programs. Some of these are HP, Epson, and Kyocera. Each manufacturer has different versions of their recycling programs, but all of these are designed to reduce landfill wastes and promote a healthier environment.

Since 1991, HP’s recycling program, Planet Partners, offers consumers different options on how to return their used HP InkJet and laser jet ink cartridges for recycling. You have the choice to return these cartridges through their designated collection centers or ship the materials (check their website for the details).

You should know that HP doesn’t make refurbished ink cartridges out of your old cartridge. They disassemble, sort, and shred these to make other useful products, like clothing hangers and roofing tiles.

Epson’s free recycling program is done in partnership with Funding Factory. Currently, they’re only offering one option of sending out your empty ink cartridges, which is through mail. Epson also accepts donations of your old Epson hardware equipments, such as printers and scanners.

Just like Epson, Kyocera lets consumers send out their empty toner containers by mailing it to them. You have to remember that you need to send this in their original packaging. Place the cartridges in a plastic bag, which is then placed into the original container box. Kyocera recycles returned cartridges into new toner cartridges.

There are plenty of institutions out there that you can choose to donate your empty InkJet cartridges. Some charitable organizations have even started out their own ink jet cartridge recycling programs. You can research about these more, so you’ll know how they plan to dispose of the cartridges and the perks of donating.