The business of manufacturing printer inks and printer ink cartridges is a multimillion-dollar industry. Most people who own computers also own printers and make use of printer ink cartridges. Hundreds of millions of printer ink cartridges were sold in Europe and the United States in the last two years alone.
The question is: where do all these empty printer ink cartridges go? Ideally, used printer ink cartridges should find their way to special recycling centers where the materials these cartridges were made of are retrieved for future use. Unfortunately, only 25% of all those millions of cartridges consumed every year go that way.
Empty Printer Ink Cartridges Can Contribute to Pollution
Empty printer ink cartridges are non-biodegradable products. This means that if these cartridges end up in a landfill, they will just sit there for years and years without decaying.
Not only that, the chemicals that make up printer ink, not to mention the chemicals that make these inks resistant to fading as well as produce brilliant colors, can be quite harmful to the environment. These chemicals are also capable of seeping into the soil in the landfill and finding their way into the ground water. From the ground water, they can eventually get mixed into other bodies of water, even into the ocean. Next thing we know, we are actually drinking printer ink chemicals in our coffee and eating sushi made with fish tainted with printer ink chemicals.
Printer Ink Cartridges are Made from Finite Resources
We also need to consider the materials that make up the printer ink cartridge itself. Each printer ink cartridge is made from plastic and metal. Plastic is a by-product of petroleum while metals are mined from the earth. Both petroleum and metal are finite resources.
Recycling Printer Ink Cartridges Helps the Environment
Rather than simply throwing away empty printer ink cartridges, we should all be conscientious enough to bring them to special recycling centers. Also, before we buy a printer, we ought to check out if the manufacturer of this printer we are interested in has some sort of recycling program wherein they accept empty printer ink cartridges carrying their brand name.
We could also buy remanufactured printer ink on occasion. This type of printer ink makes use of recycled cartridges. However, before we buy remanufactured printer ink cartridges, we ought to make sure that these cartridges will not harm our printers, especially if our printers are still under warranty. Good companies that deal with remanufactured printer ink cartridges will always offer guarantees that their products will not ruin printers.
Always be conscientious even with the printer ink cartridges that you use. Recycle empty cartridges and buy remanufactured ink as much as possible.
Related Articles
How to Recycle Printer Ink Cartridges
By: James Kara Murat | 19/03/2008 | Hardware
When the ink in your printer cartridge runs out, what do you do? Do you just chuck the printer ink cartridge in with the trash, or do you recycle them?
Is That On-Sale Printer Really a Bargain?
By: Ray La Foy | 29/06/2006 | Technology
he problem for many, however, is the fact that the printer itself can be found, but replacement ink cannot.
The History of Hp
By: Brenda Stokes | 18/06/2007 | Hardware
It all started in 1939 when Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard created HP when they worked on an audio oscillator in a garage in Palo Alto, California. After Walt Disney bought several of these oscillators for their latest movie, Fantasia, the company was off and running.
So how did this small company expand from a garage to being the world leader in information technology? While HP began as a company that produced all sorts of electronic products, their first focus was on test products like counte
Tips for Buying Inexpensive Replacement Battery for your Laptop
By: James Kara Murat | 03/01/2008 | Business
A laptop allows for mobility. In the fast-paced environment that is so common these days, no one can ever do without an efficient access to information wherever he may happen to be.
Buying Lexmark Printer Cartridges Online
By: Amber Scott | 05/07/2008 | Hardware
If you are fortunate enough to have a Lexmark printer, you probably have wondered how you can save money on printer cartridges. No matter what type of printer you have, printer cartridges usually end up costing you quite a bit of money, especially if you buy them in a store. You are often better off to go elsewhere.
Original Cartridges: a Definite Boon!
By: Steve Wagner | 25/09/2006 | Hardware
It has been technically proved that original cartridges printing quality is far better than the refilled or compatible ones. Printer Ink is made up of mixture of pigments and condensed surfactants, biocide along with fungicide, buffering agent, humectants & resin, de-ionized stream of water (May vary depending on the type of Ink).
Recycle Dell Computers
By: James Kara Murat | 31/07/2007 | Hardware
Do you have a “totaled” or wiped out Dell computer? Do you want to be a more socially aware and environmentally concerned techie-owner by looking for ways to have your unit recycled? Here’s some good news! You can recycle your empty Dell computers by availing of the company’s Global Consumer Recycling Program, which aims to offer computer owners like you free, highly convenient and ecologically sound choices in order to recycle or refurbish. This social awareness project, which started in 1991,
Laptop Battery Technologies
By: James Kara Murat | 03/01/2008 | Business
It goes without saying that the performance of a laptop depends a lot on its battery. After all, a laptop becomes mobile only when its battery allows for a longer runtime.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Printer ink status
By: tower | 21-05-2008
I know there is a way to link your printer to the web. When you type in your computers ID, it tells you your current ink status. I need to know the http: to enter?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Hardware Articles
The Doom of the Hard Disk Drive
By: Sandra Prior | 26/07/2008
The hard disk has been with us for longer than you’d realize. The first examples materialized back in the 1950s, and the IBM Winchester format which we still essentially use today arrived in 1973. Since then, pundits have predicted the hard disk’s doom more than once.
5 Important Functions of Wimax
By: Gary Zivkovich | 26/07/2008
Like WiFi system, WiMax can work on the similar way. You can access WiMax internet connection at any distance.
Types of Plastic Card Printer Ribbons
By: Lisa Mason | 25/07/2008
Plastic card printers are a wonderful piece of equipment that can make a great addition to any office or business. They allow you to create your own ID cards anytime you have a need for one. Some of these printers use ribbons which will need to be replaced. It is important to know a little about the different types of plastic card printer ribbons available so you can find the ones that are needed for your particular machine.
5 Uses for That Computer Mouse Once Touch Screens Take Over the Market
By: 10x Marketing | 25/07/2008
You may have heard that touch screens are taking over as the latest technology, eliminating the need for certain technology like the computer mouse. Once all computer screens are touchable and don’t require a computer mouse to access certain functions within the computer, what would happen with all of the computer mice in the world?
Usb Pen Drives: Storing and Transferring Data Becomes Easy
By: Raisa Raima | 25/07/2008
A pen drive is a device which is used to transfer the data easily and with secrecy. It is a multi-purpose device which offers great efficiency and it is user-friendly too. Of all these, the USB Pen Drives are the most famous and efficient pen drives.
Increase Your Search Results
By: Vinodd Kumarr | 25/07/2008
This is excellent information for everyone. I am surprised that more internet users do not know these simple types of searches. I am even more surprised at how many marketers do not know this.
Why Does it Matter How Old or Young Your Website is
By: Sushil Kumar | 24/07/2008
According to statistics on major search engines, it has a dramatic effect.
It seems as though users prefer sites that are more popular and trust-worthy than sites that are younger.
This may be because older sites probably are better developed and protected against potential spam than newer sites and people tend to trust sites they view as being more secure.
Upgrade to a Colour Laser Printer
By: Alan Wilson | 24/07/2008
So your ready to purchase your first colour laser printer but don't know where to begin.
Colour Laser Printers have seen some of the biggest decreases in cost over the last couple of years of all printer types and the cheapest model from each manufacturer is now little more than you would previously have paid for an inkjet printer.
More from James Kara Murat
Useful Information From a Lexmark Laser Printer Cartridge Msds
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
All of us would rather work with materials and substances that we feel confident enough to be safe for usage as accorded by their materials safety data sheets or MSDSs. After all, who wants to work with hazardous substances unless the proper precautions are observed?
The same goes with the printers and printing supplies that we use. We want them to be safe for our usage, especially when we have them at home and our children are among their users. If you are using a Lexmark laser printer and pri
Useful Information From an Hp Laser Printer Cartridge Msds
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
All manufacturers of printers, printer inks and other printing supplies are required to provide a materials safety data sheet or MSDS for all their products. Hewlett-Packard, being one of the leading manufacturers of printers, inks and printing supplies, is not exempt from this requirement. In fact, HP does comply with the ruling, and there are various MSDS’s found on their website for every printer ink cartridge that they produce.
How to Search for an MSDS for an HP Laser Printer Cartridge
Th
A Short Primer on Materials Safety Data Sheets
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
Safety is of the utmost importance in the workplace. If workers are confident that their workplace is free from safety hazards and that the materials they are working with are not harmful to them, then they can work more easily and much more happily.
This is why it is important for employers to make sure that they have all the materials safety data sheets or MSDS for all the materials and equipment that they use at hand. Even more so, employers should make sure that the MSDS that they have are
Resolving Printing Issues With Your Dell Printer
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
Are you having printing issues with your Dell printer? Specifically, is the print quality not as good as it used to be? Is the printout blurry or are there smudges or horizontal lines where there should not be on the printout?
In that case, do not be frustrated. It is easy to be frustrated when this happens to your usually trusty Dell printer, especially when the print job that you need to do is pretty urgent, but there are ways of getting around whatever printing issues you may be experiencing
How to Fix Common Printer Error Codes for Brother Multifunction Printers
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
Have you ever encountered a printer error code while using your Brother multifunction printer? Chances are that you have. It is not that the Brother multifunction printer is an inferior machine; in fact, it is one of the best multifunction printers out there. But just like any machine, it can bog down. And when it does, a printer error code might pop up on your computer screen or on the LCD control panel of the printer.
What are the common printer error codes of Brother multifunction printers a
Brother Mfc or Canon Pixma: Which is the Better Multifunction Printer?
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
People with home devices often prefer to use multifunction printers simply because these devices conserve space and have many features that home offices need compacted in just one device. Most leading printer manufacturers have multifunction printers as part of their product line.
Among the multifunction printers available in the market today, those created by Brother and Canon are some of the best. The question is this: Which is the better line of multifunction printer, the Brother MFC or the
Top 5 Dell Laser Printers for Home Offices and Small Businesses
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
The printing needs of people who have home offices or run small businesses are just as extensive as parties who operate enterprises on a much larger scale. However, it is kind of typical for most people to want a laser printer for their home offices or small businesses that is compact and can address most, if not all, of their printing needs despite the compactness of the device.
How do Dell laser printers answer these needs? Here are the five most popular Dell laser printers for home offices
Three Great Recycling Projects for Kids
By: James Kara Murat | 10/07/2008 | Hardware
If you want to teach your kids the value of recycling, it would help a lot if you give them some hands-on experience. Learning first-hand just how important recycling is and what they can do with materials that are considered by some as trash will give your kids a greater appreciation for recycling.
A few simple crafts can get your kids started on recycling. Here are some recycling projects for kids that your children may enjoy working on.
1. A letter holder from old CDs and packaging foam
On
Computers 
