How To Recycle Your Toner Cartridge

Posted by green baby on April 4, 2010

When you recycle your toner cartridge you have the opportunity to preserver the environment and lessen the impact on your finances. These days throwing your toner cartridge in the trash is a waste; it’s like throwing your money away!

Rather than toss out your used toner cartridge, you have the option to recharge them with new toner. Manufacturers can replace the drums and other important parts with new ones. Additionally, some retail shops accept trade-ins for spent toner cartridges when you purchase a new one from them. These cartridges are then refilled so they can be sold at discounted prices. Self-refill kits are also available.

Depending on the type of toner cartridge you use, there are multiple types of refill kits available. These kits make recycling toner cartridges simple and cheap. Most refill kits come with instructions, and the toner is inside a plastic bottle. There are no special tools required other than soldering iron to refill the cartridge. Here are four basic steps on how to recycle your toner cartridge.

1. Take the toner cartridge off the printer.

2. Using the soldering iron, carefully burn a small hole into the cartridge casing without damaging the casing. Do not employ a drill to create the hole, as this can cause miniscule pieces of plastic to fall into the cartridge’s chamber.

3. Pour the toner in through the fill hole. Manufacturers recommend you do not fill the chamber completely full — especially if you are refilling a cartridge that has been used more than once.

4. Once you’ve poured enough toner into the cartridge, seal the hole with tape.

Be careful when handling the toner. When handled improperly it can ruin your clothes, furniture, or carpet. Further, many toners are hazardous; therefore, take necessary precautions by wearing gloves and keep it out of children’s reach.

Toner cartridges are largely non-biodegradable and are therefore destined for landfills, but if you recycle your toner cartridges or buy re-manufactured ones you eliminate waste and save landfill space — which saves on disposal costs.

If you don’t want to risk making a mess, you can buy re-manufactured toner cartridges. These are available from your local office suppliers and specialty stores. Additionally, some retailers, upon delivering your newly purchased re-manufactured cartridges, will pick up your old toner cartridges. Also, over the last few years toner cartridge re-manufacturers have improved their technology to the extent that the quality can meet the manufacturer’s OEM standards. Most re-manufactured cartridges have good quality with a low chance of leakage or malfunction.

About the Author: Megan Barlow assists others to learn and apply green and sustainable living practices. For more information, please visit her blog on Green Design and Remodeling.