How to Make $ from Recycling Ink Cartridges

Recycle ink cartridges. Want a great way to earn a little extra cash and help the environment at the same time? You've clicked on the right article. Learn how to take empty/used ink cartridges, toner cartridges, and even old cell phones, and get money for recycling them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Used or Empty inkjet printer cartridges
• A box or plastic container for collecting
• A box for shipping
• newspaper sheets or bubble wrap
• packing tape
• recycling kits from chosen web-site
• check-list of accepted ink catridges, toner, and cell phones

1. Collect empty or used inkjet, laser, and/or toner cartridges. And if you're feeling adventurous, even old cell phones. Ask family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to save their cartridges for you. Collect them in a box or a plastic container so leftover ink does not ruin anything. (If collecting cell phones as well, store in a separate container.)

2. Check out the following web-sites to determine which company fits your collection the best. Browse through their price lists. Identify your ink cartridges using the brand name, and cartridge number. This is the info you will use to determine which site accepts which cartridges, and can be found on your cartridges label or the box it came in.
   
   Web-sites:
   www.staplesrecyclefored.com
   www.tonerbuyer.com
   www.advantagecartridge.com
   www.eCycleGroup.com

3. After picking which company is going to work best for you, request their recycling kit. This will typically include free shipping labels, specific packing instructions, forms to fill out, and how to ship the cartridges. Take note that each company will have a minimum number of cartridges that can be sent at one time. It ranges from 6-20 depending on the web-site.

4. Once you receive the recycling kit and have enough cartridges to send, it's time to pack them up. Wrap each cartridge in newspaper, bubble wrap or most cartridges will come with a small envelope from the manufacturer to ship the cartridge back to them for recycling. These are also convenient to use for shipping. Pack wrapped cartridges in a box, seal with packing tape, and place appropriate shipping labels on the box.

5. Each company will specify how to ship, whether through mail, using UPS, or Fed-ex. Take package to appropriate drop-off location.

6. Wait for your check and continue collecting cartridges!!

7. If collecting old cell phones to recycle. Follow the company's web-site instructions for shipping those.
   
   Web-sites that offer cell phone recycling:
   www.advantagecartridge.com
   www.eCycleGroup.com

Tips & Warnings

• Most companies I listed have programs for fundraisers-Perfect for schools, churches, and non-profits!
• Great way to earn money for something that you would otherwise throw away.
• Even an empty print cartridge has some ink in it. Be careful of clothes and table and/or floor surfaces when collecting, identifying, and packing cartridges.
• Make sure you follow the company's detailed instructions completely. If not there could be small shipping charges if too few or too many cartridges are sent at once.
• Make sure cartridges you send aren't damaged. If one is, the amount you would receive for sending the damaged one will be subtracted from your total.

[taxer12]

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[static404]

on 6/24/2009 Sounds like an easy way to make some extra money. Thanks for sharing how to recycle ink cartridges.

[writer7]

on 6/23/2009 Great ideas! 5*

[cdclocks]

on 6/14/2009 Nice. I can't stand seeing ink cartridges just thrown out. I've often gathered them from work just to turn in...no profit...just can't stand seeing them not recycled.

[CaseyCarlton]

on 3/23/2009 Thanks for the information. 5 stars and a recommend