How to Dispose of Ink Cartridges

Disposing of ink cartridges in today's "green" society means either reusing or recycling the cartridges. Those dumped in the trash end up in landfills or in a plastics smelter where harmful fumes and particulate matter are released into the environment. Reusing or recycling is best for the environment, as it saves a great deal of money you'd spend on expensive new cartridges.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Refill empty ink cartridges before the ink runs out. This significantly cuts the cost of new cartridges. Refill kits are available in all office supply stores. They come with all of the equipment, ink and instructions for do-it-yourself refilling at a fraction of the cost of a new cartridge.
2. Take the cartridge to an office supply or drug store that has an on-site refill service. Not all stores provide this service, so call around to office supply stores in the area and ask they can refill an ink cartridge for you.
3. Recycle empty ink cartridges if you've already refilled it several times and have worn it out or if the cartridge is not available for refill. Rather than placing the cartridge directly into your home recycling bin for weekly pick-up, it's better to participate in a recycle program specifically for the recycling of ink cartridges such as the Staples store's "Ink Drop Program." Sign up for the program on the Staples website and receive a new cartridge and prepaid return envelope for the old cartridge. You are only charged the cost of the new cartridge.

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