If you’ve compiled a lot of empty toner and ink cartridges, you’ve likely wondered how you can dispose of them safely. Since studies show that over 375 million discarded printer cartridges end up in landfills every year, it’s best to recycle them. Here’s why recycling this computer waste is beneficial for the environment and how to do it properly.

Why It’s Essential to Recycle Cartridges

Less Waste

Recycling your printer cartridges is a simple action to cut down on unnecessary landfill waste and emissions. Producing cartridges requires natural resources like petroleum, plastic, and aluminum that cannot be reproduced easily.

The parts from these components also take a long time — sometimes up to a century — to fully break down to their original raw materials. Along with releasing toxic chemicals in the air during decomposition, your discarded computer waste also increases your carbon footprint because greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are emitted during transportation to your local landfill.

Less Spend

Aside from the ecological impact of recycling your toner and ink cartridges, there is also an added benefit for your wallet. Ink manufacturers can reproduce new cartridges out of repurposed materials or resell refurbished cartridges if they’re in good working condition.

Both actions ultimately result in lower production and resource costs. These savings eventually translate to lower prices when they hit store shelves.

How They’re Recycled

Most printer manufacturers collect emptied ink cartridges to refill or to repurpose the plastic. Once the container is cleaned and sorted, producers evaluate its condition and test its performance before being approved for resale.

If a cartridge doesn’t pass a quality test, it’s broken down for its useful components and sent off to a processing plant. The recycled plastic is then melted down to create new inventory and other products, while remaining components are processed together to create synthetic timber and asphalt.

Do you need a new printer cartridge? Alpha Laser Richmond has an extensive stock of top technology brands and delivers to residents across New York City. They also have an in-house recycling program where you can drop off your empty ink cartridges in exchange for cash. Learn more about their services by calling (718) 317-1263 or visiting their website.