Toner cartridges tend to pile pretty fast, especially if you do a lot of printing. Every year, over 350 million used toner cartridges are tossed into landfills. This translates to about one million cartridges every day!
Instead of throwing away the used toner cartridges, you should consider recycling them. Indeed, you can even make an extra buck from the used toner cartridges. Keep reading to see some of the best eco-friendly recycling options for your toner cartridges.
Why Recycle Used Toner Cartridges?
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Today, one of the most serious problems facing the planet is pollution, and everyone is in the race to save the world. So, you should join this “war” against pollution by recycling your toner cartridge. Here are the main benefits of recycling your toner cartridges:
- If not recycled, the plastic component of the toner cartridges can take over 400 years to decompose.
- Recycling helps to lower your carbon footprint.
- Some chemicals used to make printing toner are harmful to marine life if they gets into the water.
- Recycling helps to reduce the release of Carbon Black, which is classified as 2B carcinogen.
- Because most toner cartridges can be remanufactured, recycling them helps to increase the utility of their materials.
- It is a great way to make some money from the already used toner cartridges.
The Best Ways to Recycle Used Toner Cartridges
Whether you bought your toner cartridge online or from a seller downtown, recycling it once the toner is used up is incredibly simple. Here are the six common methods that you can use to recycle your used toner cartridges.
- Refill and Reuse Your Toner Cartridge
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If you have a used toner cartridge, especially the original ones, the chances are that you can refill and use it to print more papers. Most original cartridges can be refilled and used about three to four times. This can save you a lot of money that would have gone to buying new cartridges.
To refill your toner cartridge, you only need to acquire a refill kit for that toner cartridge. Most refill kits come with an assortment of items, including a bottle of ink, a screw tool, a syringe, plastic gloves, and a refilling guide. So, simply follow the guide to carefully refill your toner cartridge and continue enjoying high-quality prints. See – why dispose of the toner cartridge when you can still reuse it?
- Contact Remanufactured Cartridge Dealers
One of the best ways to recycle a used toner cartridge is working with remanufactured cartridge dealers. You simply need to carefully secure the toner cartridge and send back to the dealer. Some of these dealers might even pay you some cash for every toner cartridge you take to them.
When remanufactured cartridge dealer collects used toner cartridges, they refill them with the right toner and resell to consumers. These cartridges offer high quality printouts but are sold at a lower price compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges. So, if you are looking forward to saving some money on printing, using remanufactured toner cartridges will be a great option. Find more useful options for your old laser toner cartridges at Gear Origin.
- Return the Cartridge to Your Supplier
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Most toner cartridge suppliers to your office have elaborate programs for dealing with used cartridges. In most of the cases, the retailers take back the cartridges and use the legally recommended methods of handling hazardous wastes. The retailers have contracts with top recycling companies and hazardous waste dealers who pick the used toner cartridges on a regular basis.
Some retailers might also provide you with instructions on how to recycle the used toner cartridge. To encourage you to buy toner cartridges from the same retailer, you might be offered a small token for returning the used toner cartridge.
- Send Back to the Manufacturer
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One of the requirements that manufacturers, including those making toner cartridges, have to meet is installing elaborate systems for recycling their products. So, once your toner cartridges are used up, simply contact the cartridge manufacturer so that he can take them back.
Most manufacturers will provide you with an address that you can use to mail the toner-cartridge to them. Some might even have specific pick-up points where you can take the used toner cartridges.
When manufacturers pick the toner cartridges, those that are still in good condition might be refilled for resale. If the toner cartridge is damaged, its materials might be recycled to make other products. The focus of the manufacturers is to try and extend the utility of the materials used to make the toner cartridges.
- Send the Toner Cartridge to a Local Recycling Facility
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Another method of correctly recycling your used toner cartridge is working with a local recycling facility in your area. These are licensed firms that know how to handle different types of wastes, including hazardous waste materials from toner cartridges. So, check for the facility near you, and that has a good reputation for recycling materials.
Note that when dealing with recycling firms, you might be charged a fee for recycling your waste. However, the amount will be a worthwhile course because you will have contributed to reducing pollution.
- Donate to Charity
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To help address the problem of global pollution, many charities have come forward to help collect waste from communities and recycle it. These charities have developed a wide network of contacts, including churches, schools, offices, and individual businesses, that they help after selling the toner cartridges.
For your toner cartridge to be accepted by these charities, it needs to be from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and be in good condition. So, make sure to wrap the toner cartridge carefully, preferably with several layers of newspapers to prevent damages.
Conclusion
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If you have a laser printer, it is important to ensure that your toner cartridges are recycled properly to reduce the current global problem of pollution. According to mrdepot, you should look for ways to extend the toner cartridge materials’ utility using different recycling methods outlined above. So, do not just throw away the used toner cartridge, because it can be reused, and you can even make some money for returning it.
