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Do the planet a favor and recycle your printer and copier cartridges. This simple act keeps usable resources and toxic waste out of landfills, saves energy, and may even put money in your pocket.

How to recycle your toner cartridges

Regardless of which recycling option you choose, be sure to verify that the recycling program is reputable. Signing the Electronic Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship, the most rigorous criteria for sustainable and socially just electronics recycling, is a good sign that they'll handle your waste in the most eco-friendly manner.

1. Send it back to the manufacturer: Many manufacturers now have take-back programs for their printer cartridges:
   • Brother Toner, Ink, and Used Consumable Disposal - Use Brother's website to print prepaid shipping labels to use on spent toner and ribbon cartridges, drum units, and inkjet cartridges.
   • Dell Ink & Toner Recycling - Each new cartridge comes with recycling instructions and a return bag or shipping label for returning the unit by mail.
   • HP inkjet and LaserJet cartridge recycling - New cartridge boxes should contain postage-paid return materials. If you’ve lost your return materials, you can get new ones through HP's website.
   • Konica Minolta Clean Planet Program - Follow the instructions that come with new cartridges to return the spent ones, or print a label from their website if you've lost yours.
   • Lexmark Recycling Program - They’ll accept inkjet and toner cartridges for recycling around the world. Use this site to print mailing labels.
   • Xerox Supplies Recycling - Use this website to download shipping labels and instructions for returning cartridges for all Xerox printing machines.
2. Send it off to a retail recycler: Some office supply companies have convenient drop boxes where you can return cartridges from any manufacturer:
   • Office Depot - Recycle your toner or inkjet cartridges with one of their free boxes which can be filled and returned to any Office Depot store. You can also order boxes by calling 1-800-GO-DEPOT.
   • OfficeMax - Earn rewards with OfficeMax's MaxPerks recycling program. Order collection materials through their website.
   • Staples - Get a prepaid InkDrop envelope or mailing label when you sign up for a welcome kit. The service is free and you’ll even get a $30 coupon for your next $150 purchase with them.
   • Access Computer Products - If your office, school, or church is looking for large volume recycling, talk to these folks. They’ll arrange to take those used cartridges off your hands.
3. Drop it at a local recycling facility:
   • Earth 911 will pinpoint a recycling facility that accepts used printer cartridges in your area. Simply enter a keyword and your zip code.
   • Cartridges for Kids - These clever programs allow schools and other organizations to collect used cartridges as part of fundraising campaigns. There may be one going on in your area!

Recycling ink cartridges helps you go green because…

• They provide usable materials for use in producing remanufactured cartridges.
• It reduces solid waste as well as air and water pollution.

More than 300 million cartridges from copiers and printers end up in the trash worldwide every year, close to 100 million in the US alone. This adds up to more than 1.7 million tons of waste annually, with components that take 450 years to decompose.[1]

Used cartridges can be sent to remanufactures where they are reconditioned and made ready for sale. This keeps non-biodegradable materials out of the dump and conserves energy and natural resources.[2] The toner remanufacturing industry is comprised of 5,000 companies in the US, employing 35,000 people. By reconditioning and refilling old cartridges, each remanufacturer saves the equivalent of 264 gallons of oil and 845 pounds of solid waste each month.[3]

Companies choosing to recycle products like toner and inkjet cartridges can save significant amounts on disposal costs, too. California's Broderbund Software recycles most of its waste including printer cartridges, a program that’s saved the company over $20,000 every year.[4]

Many printer producers have instituted their own cartridge remanufacturing programs. HP has been accepting used cartridges since 1991, resulting in 176 million pounds of cartridge trash being diverted from landfills.[5]

Related health issues

The Basel Convention of 1994 stipulates that hazardous e-waste cannot be shipped from rich countries to poor nations for disposal and/or recycling. The US is the only major country still refusing to sign. As a result, toxic electronics, including toner cartridges, are being shipped to countries that often have lax environmental and health regulations. Toner contains carbon black, a known carcinogen, and is often handled by children and adults alike in overseas recycling facilities.[6]

External links

• Department of General Services, California - Office Machines - Toner and Inkjet Cartridges: Laws and Guidelines If you need ideas on how to set up your own company toner cartridge purchasing policy, check out this website.
• US Environmental Protection Agency - Buy-Recycled Series: Nonpaper office products