| If you are concerned about the environment, you | | | | you don’t want to wait, go online and you’ll be |
| already know not to just throw those empty | | | | able to find programs that will let you mail in your |
| cartridges and toners in the trash. Through those | | | | empties for recycling. Usually, the mailing materials will |
| disposal means, your empty ink containers could end | | | | be sent to you for free. |
| up sitting in the landfill for decades. The good news is | | | | Refill & Reuse |
| there are better ways to dispose of these items and | | | | You can actually recycle your ink cartridges right at |
| many of these methods are helpful to the environment. | | | | home in a way. If you think about it, each time you buy |
| Reasons Not to Throw Away | | | | a new cartridge, you’re not just wasting the empty |
| If you’re wondering if choosing one of the options | | | | plastic cartridge but also all of the packaging that |
| below is worth the effort, just thin about a few | | | | comes with that cartridge. To avoid that, you can |
| statistics. Every single minute of the day, fewer than | | | | simply have the cartridge refilled. You can purchase |
| 500 cartridges are thrown in the trash. Those ink | | | | the kits in your local stores and most are fairly easy to |
| cartridges travel from our trash to the local landfill. If | | | | use. Be warned that some of the printer companies |
| you took all of those cartridges’ weights and added | | | | don’t like the refill option so don’t wait until your |
| them together, you’d get a figure that is equal to | | | | cartridge is completely empty or else you may have a |
| the same weight as more than 112,000 Volkswagen | | | | hard time getting your printer to recognize the replaced |
| Beetles! | | | | refilled cartridge. |
| Recycle | | | | Return |
| As interest in eco-friendly disposal methods has | | | | A number of manufacturers have programs available |
| increased, more recycling programs have popped up | | | | that allow you to return your empties in order to save |
| and offer a good alternative to tossing toners and | | | | money on your next purchase. For example, Lexmark |
| cartridges in the trash. You can find these recycle | | | | toners’ packages come with instructions on how to |
| programs in a number of ways. Many stores have | | | | mail back the empty toner to the company. Usually, the |
| drop boxes where you place your empty cartridges | | | | discount you would receive is already subtracted from |
| for recycling. Some school programs and periodical | | | | the purchase price in good faith that you will return the |
| local events also give you a chance to recycle them. If | | | | toner. |