Green and Save and Earn Money By Recycling Ink Cartridges

Photo:geeksugar.com

The best way to save money is not to print at all. GO Paperless!  If the average American spends $200-$300 per year in printing, I can’t even imagine how much money an office spends printing. Not only the cost, but when ink and toner cartridges wind up in landfills, the toxic ingredients seep into groundwater and guess what- you end up drinking it.

Eye Bogglers

• Americans use over 700 Million Ink Cartridges per year or about 70,000 African Elephants.
• Almost 8 ink and toner cartridges are thrown away per second in the USA
• An Ink cartridge can take up to 450 years to decompose
• Each discarded empty laser printer cartridge adds about 3 pounds of waste to Landfills.
• Over 86-95% % of ink cartridges are thrown away and taken to landfills.

Increasing our dependence on oil

• 2.5 ounces of oil is used for every new inkjet cartridge products.
• 3.5 quarts of oil are used for every new laser cartridge produced.
• Each cartridge contains petroleum as “embedded” energy (i.e.. fuel value of the plastic itself). It takes the energy equivalent of approximately 1/2 gallon of oil to make one 2 1/2 pound cartridge.

Now all the major manufacturers are helping you to recycle, but did you know, you can actually make money by recycling your ink cartridges?

• Freerecycling.com is a free service to anyone interested in receiving cash back for cartridges that are empty, used or expired. Shipping and handing costs are prepaid for and customers can receive up to $3.60 for each used ink cartridge. This service is also available for customers who do not have access to the Internet. You may either fax or call in your request. The turn around time is quick and easy. Payment is sent to the customer after cartridges arrive to the warehouse and are inspected.

Or

• Get your ink jets refilled at places such as Longs Drug
• 123 Refills

Or get credit back

1. Staples- You can recycle ANY ink cartridge – no matter which brand! This includes Brother®, Epson® and Canon ink or toner cartridges, up to 10 per calendar month per customer and receive $3 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge. Limit one Staples Rewards account per address. We will recycle additional cartridges but rewards will only be issued for 10 per calendar month per customer. Your ink recycling reward will arrive each month, separately from your standard Staples Rewards statement.

Resources

• http://isisupplies.com/recyclingfacts.html
• Toxic Ingredients

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