Inkjet Cartridges Recycling Program

Hello, just came to wonder who really does recycle their original inkjet cartridge (either laser or inkjet) after they have use finish it. This is what i have found out from a source that there are a few programs out the by the Original Manufacturers

Epson_-_cooperation with Funding Factory, recently launched a free recycling program for its customers. Schools and businesses can get points for collecting and remitting empty cartridges to Epson. However, the cartridges are not remanufactured or refilled. They are incinerated. To be fair, mention must be made that the incineration is at an environmentally friendly waste-to-energy plant; however, it’s easy to see that Epson is the big winner in this recycling effort. Their recycling plan takes cartridges out of the hands of remanufacturing plants that can offer less expensive remanufactured compatible cartridges to the consumer.

Hewlett Packard_-_More than 1.8 million HP inkjet cartridges were recycled in 2003. Unfortunately, for the consumer, plastics and metal from the HP cartridges are also disassembled and made into new products. Other components are “used to generate energy or are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.”

Canon_-_They have several options for recycling toner cartridges, including a single return option, an up-to-eight multiple return option, and a bulk return option. Whichever you choose, a shipping label can be downloaded directly from their website. Return shipping via UPS is pre-paid by the company. It appears from many recycling and other eco-friendly programs displayed on their website, that Canon is a leader in environmental stewardship, however to date they have no recycling program in place for inkjet cartridges.

Lexmark_-_Their recycling program is 100% free, as are the other printer manufacturer recycling programs. Customers request a kit using an online order form. Lexmark pays the postage both ways.However, there is one major difference between Lexmark’s program and the programs of the other print giants. Lexmark works with Planet Ark and Close the Loop in Australia to ensure every collected cartridge is remanufactured or recycled. In addition, they have similar recycling programs in Latin American and South Africa. In Europe, every purchase of a Lexmark high-volume cartridge comes with a postage-paid recycling bag included.

Although all these big companies have great programs for recycling the cartridges and save our big O Mother nature. But i think they are just wasting their resources. Their cartridges are still good to use for another dont know how many round for god sake.

From my point of view, everyone must do their part in helping to save the enviroment. Re-use the original cartridges and use it till the cartridges is not able to perform. Then you will be looking into how to recycle that useless piece of plastic.

Just a 2 cents of my views


Tags: inkjet, inkjet cartridge, inkjet refill, HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark