Of the 500 million printer cartridges sold each year in the United States, 350 million are disposed of in landfills, according to Earth911.org, which provides a free online locator service for recycling opportunities.
This waste of resources is also a waste of money. Each toner cartridge is worth a credit of about $2 in the largest retailer trade-in programs at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot. Toner cartridges can also be mailed back for recycling. Cartridge manufacturers offer shipping labels for free mail-back without payment, but some online cartridge dealers list on their websites which used laser toner and ink jet cartridges they pay for, provided customers ship at least 20 per box and follow other requirements.
One of these online collectors, Recycling Advantage, lists prices ranging from 25 cents to $3.75 for used laser toner cartridges and 5 cents to $1.80 for used ink-jet cartridges.
More eco-tips:
Unused cartridges from surplus or liquidation, still in their sealed bags, have far more value. If you switch printers but still have unused cartridges in sealed bags, contact a company like Galaxy Surplus in Ojai. Ink-jet cartridges retain value for only three years, but laser toner cartridges have no expiration dates.
Refilling your own cartridge is also a great way to save money. Some models can be refilled for a fee at participating Walgreens or Costco photo departments. Others can be refilled at home with kits purchased online. Most refillable cartridges have two refill holes or a single refill port under the product label sticker.
Through June 30, helping animals is another reason to recycle toner cartridges. Ventura County Animal Services has a large animal cage in the lobby of the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Next to a plush toy dog inside the cage, a poster urges drop-off of cartridges. A few days ago, the cage was overflowing with donations for the agency, which operates two shelters and coordinates pet adoption, licensing, vaccination and other services for more than 10,000 animals per year.
David Goldstein is an environmental resource analyst for the Ventura County government. Representatives of government or nonprofit agencies who want to submit articles on environmental topics for this column should contact Goldstein at 658-4312 or [email protected].