Recycling
FAQ
about recycling Inkjet and Laser Toner Cartridges
Q. Why is recycling so important?
A. Recycling
is environmentally beneficial because it reduces the amount of waste sent to
landfill, re-uses the planet’s finite resources and uses less energy than
making a cartridge from new.
Q. How can I recycle my
Inkjet cartridges?
A. Take them to your local charity shop - most of whom
collect cartridges for recycling. Do not take them back to the shop you bought
them from. You would much rather a charity have your donation than a big
business wouldn't you ....
Q. What happens to my empty cartridge?
A. They are sent directly to a Recycling Centre where, so far as possible,
they are remanufactured into new cartridges.
Q. Can all Inkjet cartridges be made into new cartridges?
A. Unfortunately not for a variety of reasons. Cartridges which
do not have the printhead attached to the cartridge (e.g. Epson and some Canon
cartridges) cannot be
re-used. The only way they can be recycled is to be ground down into plastic chips which are then used as packing material or melted down and reformed into new shapes.
Unfortunately, most recycling centres refuse to accept Epson cartridges due to the large volume
they have received which makes more packing material than they can use or sell.
This saddens everyone at Print4Less
because we are all dedicated to recycling as much as we can. However, we do appreciate that it uses more energy to transport, sort and crush these cartridges than can be recouped by recycling.
We advise that If there is a plastics recycling bin at your local refuse centre, please use it for your empty Epson cartridges instead. Your local council should have details of plastics recycling depots in your area (or try the Yellow Pages).
Q. What about empty Laser toner cartridges?
A. The majority of these can also be recycled by taking to
your local charity shop.
Q. Are
the Laser toner empties worth anything?
A. Recycling companies need empties in order to make and sell remanufactured cartridges.
Sometimes they will pay for certain empty Laser toner cartridges but the prices
fluctuate depending on supply and demand and some are not worth anything. If
these empties have a value, it can then be passed back to the charity.
Q. I currently return all my empties to my Stationery supplier. Surely they
are recycling them!
A. Not necessarily. The stationery supplier may be doing one of two things
with the empties -
Selling them to a remanufacturer and keeping any money generated, or
Sending them back to the
printer manufacturers e.g. Hewlett
Packard, Canon, Epson etc. These companies do not recycle their empties for
further use in printers.
Q. Why don’t Printer manufacturers recycle their empties?
A. Printer manufacturers make virtually no money selling printers. Their profit
comes from selling their own inkjet and toners cartridges. Therefore they have a
vested interest in keeping empties and thus recycled consumables out of the
market so that they sell more of their own brand virgin cartridges.
Q. Are the recycled cartridges any good?
A. Recycled inkjet and laser consumables
perform equally as well as branded cartridges but cost
significantly less than the original equivalent. In addition, many carry a 12
month guarantee. Please check the T&C of the company you buy from. Most
offer a satisfaction guarantee.
Q. Are all non-branded cartridges recycled
cartridges?
A. No. Inkjet cartridges for Epson and most Canon
printers are generally new, compatible cartridges, although there are a few
recycled ones around. Inkjet
cartridges for Hewlett Packard and Lexmark printers and Canon printheads are recycled.
For more about compatible cartridges click here
Q. What about the warnings in my printer manual that using non-OEM
cartridges could damage my printer and invalidate my warranty?
A. Remanufactured and compatible cartridges are no more likely to damage your printer than the
branded cartridge. Most sellers offer a guarantee so that in the highly unlikely event that
one of their cartridges is
proved to have caused damage, the manufacturers are insured and will repair the
printer or replace it with one of a similar market value. Check their T&C
before buying.
For
more about compatible cartridges click here
A
Print4Less
Fact
Around 90% of laser toner cartridges and 70% if
inkjets can be recycled for re-use.
Currently, only 25% of toner cartridges are recovered
for this purpose.
Where do all the other cartridges
go?
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ceased
to trade in inkjet cartridges on 31st December 2007
This was a very difficult decision but enables us to
concentrate on other ventures within the Print4Less group.
