Recycling and Green Printing Resources

Recycling and Green Printing Resources

Going green has evolved into a lifestyle in which people are collectively working to preserve the resources and environment that surrounds them. As technology has advanced and the ability to recycle things that before were just thrown into a landfill, we are seeing a variety of organizations surface that offer services to help individuals recycle products that they may have thought could not be recycled. For example, the benefits of refurbishing ink and toner cartridges have resulted in recycling as one of the primary methods of disposing these items, and it doesn’t end there. Printers and other small electronics have also made their way into the recycling world as individuals are looking for ways to dispose of their outdated equipment in an eco-friendly manner.

As many of these products contain materials that are detrimental to the environment, they do not belong in landfills. Although many do end up here, as people view printers and ink cartridges as disposable, these devices can be broken down and their basic parts can be reused to create new products. Check out the information below to learn more about the benefits of recycling, what exactly can be recycled, and various strategies and methods for getting rid of your old printer cartridges, printers and used paper.

Recycling Ink Cartridges:

From the reasons to why recycling ink cartridges is beneficial to both consumers and the environment, to how-to dispose of printer cartridges of all kinds, there are a variety of resources out there to help eliminate hazardous materials from landfills across the world.

• An article from GoodHouseKeeping.com, “Recycle Used Inkjet Cartridges,” explains to readers the simple process of recycling ink cartridges and also includes statistics about how long it takes for one ink cartridge to decompose.
• Learn the basic Life Cycle of a Toner Cartridge with this visual representation of a cartridge, from the original manufacturing to when it is recycled and refurbished.
• For an eco-friendly approach to printing, A Greener Refill explains the environmental benefits of recycling used ink and toner cartridges. Understanding these benefits and other facts about recycling products are essential to ensuring that cartridges are disposed of properly.
• Benefits-of-Recycling readers will find a breakdown of the recycling process and little-known facts on recycling ink cartridges.
• Ink Technologies offers a free ink and toner cartridge recycling program. Send your used cartridges in today!
• The FundingFactory is an organization that offers a free service to collects ink cartridges and other small electronics to keep them out of landfills. So far, FundingFactory has kept over 31 million pounds of these products out of landfills. Click here to learn more.
• The California government website has a complete page of resources and helpful information on waste prevention as it relates to Ink and Toner Cartridges.
• What Do You Need to Know About Recycling Printer Cartridges? Find out here!
• Taking a look at how recycling printer cartridges can benefit the consumer as well as the few differences between refurbished cartridges and new ones, The Spill discuses all elements of recycling these products.
• Check out an infographic that presents a creative take on how to reduce waste and pollution associated with toner cartridges to learn more about “Recycling Toner Cartridges”.
• Evolve Recycling offers a recycling service for various products, including toner and ink, and includes 7 different facts associated with cartridge recycling.
• Inform yourself with this fact sheet centered on preventing toner cartridge waste. Topics include: advantages of remanufactured cartridges, preventing waste and locating cartridge remanufacturers.
• “Five Tips for Effectively Disposing of Printer Cartridges” from the Healthy House Institute provides a resource on various ways to safely get rid of old cartridges and prevent any harm to the environment.

Paper Recycling:

Recycling paper products is not a new trend, but it has a growing importance in conserving the resources that the environment has to offer. Save trees and reduce waste by looking at various ways to recycle used paper products, as well as the plethora of statistics available that convey the importance of recycling and reusing paper of all kinds.

• Read about everything you need to know regarding recycling paper from National Geographic including: how-to recycle, scrap paper recycling and even a look at how to make recycled paper on your own.
• “Recycled Paper: The Best Choice” from Conservatree looks at the reason to buy recycled paper from quality and availability to environmental and financial reasons, and why it is a beneficial process for all.
• With Earth911, find a list of FAQ’s regarding paper recycling and a Recycling Locator that tells you exactly where to drop off recyclables.
• “The Benefits of Paper Recycling: Why Recycle Paper?” covers all elements of recycling paper from the history to facts on today’s recycled paper.
• Which paper products can and cannot be recycled? Click here for a complete list and facts about the process.
• Recycling paper is not limited to just dropping off scraps and newspapers at your local recycling location. Check out 10 Ways to Recycle Paper for various ways to recycle paper in your daily life. Suggested methods include using scrap paper to cushion packages, as wrapping paper, completing various art projects and more!
• Waste Management provides communities across the country with an easy way to recycle products. Visit their resource page which explains what products can and cannot be recycled.

Printers:

We know that printer cartridges of all variations can be recycled and remanufactured, but as the cost of printers decreases, many believe that printers themselves can be discarded and sent to the landfill. To the surprise of many, printers and other small electronics can be recycled, broken down and their materials used to produce new products. Learn more about the process from the helpful resources below.

• From the United State Environmental Protection Agency, “Electronics Donation and Recycling” walks readers through the process of recycling electronics including the steps to take before donating and various locations for dropping off recyclable electronics.
• Consumer Reports takes a look at the various ways to reuse or recycle old electronic devices, including printers and computers to keep these hazardous items out of America’s landfills.
• Learn more about recycling small electronics from Earth911 and find a location near you to drop off used or out-of-date printers and devices.
• Think Green from Waste Management encourages individuals to commit to recycling and living a green lifestyle. The “What Can I Recycle” information page includes a section on electronics, including a video on e-waste.

Locate A Recycling Facility Near You:

Now that you have all the information necessary to properly dispose of ink and toner cartridges, paper and printers, visit the sites below to find exact locations that will accept and recycle any unwanted items that, if simply thrown away, can take years to decompose and in the process, harm the environment that people are working to protect.

• eRecycling Center is a comprehensive database of locations that accept the items you are looking to recycle. Enter the item and location and get started today.
• Complete with resources on living and buying green, Green Gadgets provides a list of locations near you that accept electronics and will take care of recycling them for you.
• Click here to find an e-recycling center near you. Simply click on your state for a list of locations and upcoming electronic recycling events.
• For recycling locations of all kinds, visit this Recycling Location Search Engine to enter the type of products you would like to recycle and your location.

Begin recycling your used ink and toner cartridges today to help conserve resources, keep harmful materials from landfills and protect the environment. There are many ways to discard such products and live in a way that is eco-friendly, yet the benefits do not end with just the environment. Consumers are also at an advantage in many ways. Individuals can purchase refurbished products at a lesser cost, make money by recycling old products as well as saving money by reusing paper in different ways. Through these methods and other simple actions, millions of pounds of unnecessary waste can be saved from entering landfills each year.