Millions of toner cartridges are thrown away every year in the United States. If you stacked all those discarded toner cartridges worldwide in a single year, there’d be enough to circle the Earth more than three times, according to thedailygreen.com. The site also states it would take nearly a gallon of oil just to make one new laser printer toner cartridge.
Fortunately, there’s a simple and cost-effective way to reduce this waste. By recycling and refilling used cartridges with new toner, you’re choosing an environmentally preferable option that will also save you money.
Refill and reuse toner cartridges
Whether you use an inkjet or laser printer, toner cartridges can be refilled and reused, on average, four to six times. And with a toner refill kit, you can even do it yourself. Be sure to purchase the correct kit for your specific printer, as they vary depending on model and brand. All you’ll need to do it yourself is a steady hand and some patience.
Not up for the do-it-yourself method? Many office supply stores can refill toner cartridges for a fraction of the price of a new one. Remember, too, that successfully refilling printer toner and toner cartridges is dependent on whether the original cartridge is in good condition. If it’s excessively old or worn out, most retailers won’t refill it – and it’s typically not worth doing it yourself, either.
Another option is to purchase and refill high-yield toner cartridges. This type of cartridge contains more toner than the standard version and produces an output that can reach up to 10,000 pages. Not only does this increase productivity and reduce the cost per print, but these cartridges are the same size as a standard cartridge so they’re simple to install in any printer.
Recycle toner cartridges
To recycle your toner cartridges, simply drop them off at retailers like OfficeMax. They offer recycling programs and incentives such as cash back or store credit for recycling qualifying brands of ink and toner cartridges. They’ll collect, clean, refill and resell those recycled cartridges as remanufactured printer toner cartridges. If not repurposed, the materials from the cartridges are recycled and reused.
Donate toner cartridges
Donating your toner cartridges is another great way to help the environment and people in your community. Many schools, churches and non-profit organizations accept donated printer toner cartridges. Or they use toner cartridges as fundraising initiatives where the cartridges are recycled in exchange for cash.
Do your part to work responsibly
With these quick and effortless ways, you can do your part to minimize your environmental impact, save money and help others.
