"However, companies have been promoting recycling rather than the reuse of a single consumer product for years. That product: printer cartridges. The urgency of cartridge reuse and recycling cannot be overstated. North America uses approximately 400 million ink and toner cartridges annually, and more than 375 million are thrown away each year-that's more than 1 million cartridges per day. Globally, billions of cartridges are used annually, but less than 30% are recycled."
"Ink cartridges can take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. During that time, the ink and the heavy metals it contains can leach into soil and groundwater, harming ecosystems and potentially affecting human health. By choosing to refill when possible and recycle responsibly when refilling is no longer viable, you're keeping these materials in productive use and out of landfills. Congratulations, you're a member of the circular economy."
"Ink cartridge recycling is big business. You can actually make (or save) a significant amount of money by recycling the cartridges rather than reusing them. Consider: Staples offers $2 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge when you've spent at least $30 on ink or toner in the previous 180 days, with a limit of 10 to 20 cartridges per month depending on membership tier."
Reusing printer cartridges is environmentally preferable to recycling because reuse extends product life without additional manufacturing resource consumption. North America consumes about 400 million ink and toner cartridges annually, with over 375 million discarded each year; globally, less than 30% of cartridges are recycled. Ink cartridges can take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose, during which ink and heavy metals may leach into soil and groundwater, harming ecosystems and human health. Refilling cartridges when possible and recycling responsibly when refilling is no longer viable keeps materials in productive use and reduces landfill impacts. Retail programs offer financial incentives for cartridge recycling.
Read at Earth911
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