- Reinking empty cartridges conserves landfill space, reduces greenhouse gases and conserves raw materials. The manufacture of each new cartridge involves 3 ounces of oil and other raw materials and produces greenhouse gases in the process, according to Planet Green. One of the benefits of recycling ink cartridges is saving 400,000 tons of plastic and metal from entering U.S. landfills each year. Recycling 100,000 cartridges saves 9,599 kilograms of aluminum, 1 million liters of oil and 40 tons of plastic.
- Traditional ink cartridges contain petroleum-based ink, which emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the ink dries, according to the Department of General Services, California (DGS). The VOCs form smog at low atmospheric levels. In contrast, soy-based ink cartridges do not emit VOCs and remove greenhouse gases, according to ThePrintbroker.net. Made available for use with laser printers in 2008 by PRC Technologies, recycled soy-based ink cartridges should soon be offered by more manufacturers.
- Using recycled printer cartridges can cut costs. The DGS says recycled cartridges cost 30 to 50 percent less than new cartridges and often hold 20 percent more ink. Depending on the model, some cartridge recycling programs accept used cartridges or buy them back. Most large office supply chains, such as Staples, Office Depot and Office Max, provide consumers with a store credit for each empty ink cartridge return, according to "Earth Talk."
- Recycling ink cartridges can help raise funds for organizations and create jobs. The benefits of recycling ink cartridges include taking advantage of special buy-back offers. Schools, churches and other nonprofits can collect cartridges from individuals and businesses and earn money for their cause. Also, the purchase and recycling of ink cartridges helps the economy. The ink remanufacturing business employs thousands of people, according to Inkguides.com.
- It is important to buy recycled ink cartridges from companies that guarantee their products will not damage your printer. In the 1990s, disreputable ink cartridge remanufacturers used a "drill and fill" approach to recycling ink cartridges, which ended up creating a poor-quality product, according to the DGS. Today, most reputable companies disassemble, clean and reassemble ink cartridges. The DGS says that remanufactured ink cartridges perform "as well as, or better than," new ink cartridges, provided they are from reputable companies that implement good quality control.
