Print for the Planet: Five Reasons to Recycle Ink and Toner Cartridges

Nearly every single second, eight ink and toner cartridges are thrown away in the United States alone. 

In total, this means that we waste about 700,000 per day. 

If we put all the cartridges we throw out in just a single year in a line, they would make two complete circles around the Earth. 

We know that you want to learn what your business can do to keep waste at a minimum and protect the planet. While limiting the things you print, separating your garbage, and encouraging your team members to use refillable water bottles as opposed to disposable plastic or paper cups can make a difference? 

Many people overlook the importance -- and serious positive impact -- of toner recycling. 

This Earth Day (April 22) recycle ink and toner cartridges. 

Read on to learn more about why it matters, and how to make it happen. 

Why Toner Cartridge Recycling Matters

We know what you're thinking: If I recycle ink and toner cartridges, will it really make that much of a difference?

To help you understand why the answer is a resounding, "yes," let's quickly take a look at a few statistics. 

First of all, it takes the average ink and toner cartridge a whopping 450 years to completely decompose, though some can take even longer. The decomposition process doesn't happen in a vacuum. Animals mistake it for food. The chemicals in the cartridges can harm both the soil and the water in the landfill, or anywhere else they've been dumped. 

This means that in addition to being a severe health issue -- yes, even if contained in a landfill -- the presence of these non-biodegradable cartridges can make it impossible for new plants to grow. 

Further, in order to make just one cartridge, it takes about one gallon of oil. Oil is one of the most finite resources on the planet, and it's up to us to do everything we can to conserve it. 

The good news? 

If we recycle toner cartridges consistently and on a larger scale, we as a country could save nearly 11 million gallons of oil in under one year. After all, over 95% of the materials used to create ink and toner cartridges are recyclable. 

Additional Benefits of Recycling

Another motivation to take toner recycling seriously? 

Because carbon black is a potential carcinogen -- a cancer-causing agent.

While not harmful when used as directed in your office/printer, carbon black is a threat to public health if left to decompose for hundreds of years in public landfills. 

Recycling toner is also an excellent way to cut down on our overall greenhouse gas emission. This is because making only one toner cartridge usually puts close to 4kg of CO2 into the air we breathe. 

But when you opt to recycle the cartridges instead? 

You'll seriously limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. This is especially true given that the average cartridge can often be re-used as many as six times. 

How to Recycle Ink and Toner Cartridges

We hope that the above section has helped you to understand why it's so crucial to recycle ink and toner cartridges, and how big of an impact even a single recycled cartridge can have. 

That being said, it's impossible to eliminate the use of ink and toner cartridges completely. They're also far from the only thing that could be harmful to the environment. We're not saying you should feel guilty for using them, or that you should even try to limit how often you use them. 

Instead, it's all about proper ink and toner cartridge disposal/recycling methods. 

Now, let's talk about exactly how to do just that. 

You have lots of different options here. You could get in touch with the retailer where you purchased the cartridges in the first place, and see if they can connect you with easy recycling options. 

Be sure to ask if you're entitled to a discount or additional reward points for your commitment to recycling.

You can also reach out to a recycling center in your area, and ask them about their ink and toner recycling programs. Usually, you can just drop them off, but some centers require you to package the cartridges in a specific way.

There are also many different online programs that have been set up specifically to help you with ink and toner recycling. Some of these programs may even be able to make you a cash offer in exchange for your empty cartridges.  

Why Buy Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges

Of course, perhaps the biggest benefit of buying remanufactured ink and toner cartridges is that you'll do your part to reduce your environmental impact. 

Additionally, you'll be able to enjoy serious cost savings on the products you need. In many cases, you could save anywhere from 15-45% on the cost of your cartridges. 

But don't worry -- that better price tag doesn't mean that you'll be forced to accept lower quality cartridges. 

There are serious testing and quality requirements associated with remanufactured cartridges. So, they'll offer the same yield and quality of print as the original, full-priced models do. 

Additionally, you'll be able to choose from a wide selection of different cartridges, from a variety of trusted manufacturers. 

Think names you know such as Canon, Dell, IBM, Brother toner cartridges, HP, Xerox, Lexmark, and many others. 

Make a Difference This Earth Day

In addition to helping you understand why it's so important to recycle ink and toner cartridges, we hope we've also convinced you of the benefits of buying remanufactured cartridges. 

This Earth Day, educate your employees and/or coworkers about the waste associated with tossing out old cartridges. Create an incentive program that rewards consistent recycling. 

In addition to helping you to do your part for the planet, share your commitment to recycling on your brand's social media pages. This will certainly do wonders to improve your company's reputation and will win you the respect of your clients. 

Looking for ink and toner cartridges that are compatible with a variety of different well-known brands -- at a competitive, fair price? 

We have exactly what you need. Together, let's put the planet back together again.