What do you do with Empty Printer Cartridges?

After recently surveying 1,000 Australian men and women aged 18-65+, Ink Station found a staggering 45% throw their empty printer cartridges in the rubbish instead of having them refilled or recycling them correctly.

Why is this such a big issue?

Cartridges containing toner and ink are composed of carbon, harmful coloring compounds, and tiny plastic particles that are difficult for the environment to break down. At most, hundreds of years would pass before the cartridges start to degrade. In the meanwhile, the cartridge's ink or toner may leak into the nearby soil or water, contaminating it for generations after the cartridge has deteriorated.

Up to 97% of an empty toner cartridge may be recycled and turned back into a new cartridge, according to a Planet Green Recycle article.

What about the other results?

We discovered that 39% of respondents recycle, but they did not say if they have their cartridges replaced, discard the old ones in a regular recycling container, or take them to a retailer or government agency so that they may be properly recycled.

The results for properly recycling (7%), as well as refilling cartridges (7%) were very low.

Just 2% of the participants dispose of their cartridges in a regular recycling receptacle. Despite their best efforts, recycling printer cartridges requires a different procedure than recycling plastic, paper, or metal. It is necessary to recycle printer cartridges in a certain manner, just like batteries or cell phones. To locate a nearby retailer that accepts cartridges for appropriate recycling, utilize the Planet Ark website. 

Where do I take my empty print cartridges?
It was found that when asking people where they take their cartridges to recycle a majority, 46% to be exact, get their empty cartridges re-filled. Having your cartridge refilled is a great option, it helps the environment and is cost effective, but refilling is not something all printer companies support.

Office employment came as second most frequently selected (18%). It should come as no surprise given Officeworks' stellar reputation for providing office supplies and assistance with technology. It may surprise you to learn that Officeworks has participated in Planet Ark's recycling program for the past 12 years and has gathered over 5 million printer cartridges. Australia Post, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, and The Good Guys are among the other retailers involved in the initiative.

The numbers for local governments (1%), libraries (3%), and both are quite low. This can be because you didn't realize you could take your empty cartridges there, or it could just be faster to go to a store.

The Conclusion

Even if recycling paper is important, individuals will need some time to adopt the same perspective on recycling printer cartridges. Although the use of mobile phones and e-readers has reduced the need to print books and newspapers, a fully digital lifestyle is still a ways off. Our lives still depend heavily on printing, therefore it's critical that we spread awareness today and take action to reduce any potential harm down the road.

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