How can I reuse or recycle inkjet printer cartridges?
I suspect this is another recycle rather than reuse thing but again, I’m not sure how to go about recycling them.
Until recently, we didn’t have a printer at home and when I was at work, there was a helpful box in reception or the photocopying room that mystically took away my old ink/toner cartridges and turned them into money or unicorns or something.
As my description of the work-recycling process might indicate, I don’t know where those cartridges ended up so now we have a printer at home, I have a couple of cartridges and don’t know what to do with them. We’ve got a HP black and white laser printer and an Epson colour one (both second- or third- hand, I might add).
A quick search turns up a variety of options but aside from Oxfam who I suspect aren’t lying, I don’t know if the companies do with the money/cartridges as they say they will. And what about the Epson ink cartridges that Oxfam can’t take?
Any suggestions?
Best Suggestions
- Recycle: As I said above, there are lots and lots of places that take cartridges for recycling. Some of them generate money for the person who donates the cartridges but most give that money to charity. Maximise that amount for charity by giving to them direct – most major charities in the UK have schemes, for example the Oxfam one linked above or the British Heart Foundation.
- See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas
(Photo by aarenyes)
