Normally, almost all unusual types of waste are disposed of with the residual waste. But the situation is different with inkjet cartridges and toner cartridges. Specific rules apply to these products. Failure to do so could harm the environment or result in fines.
Can I dispose of old and empty ink cartridges in the household waste?
At first glance, it may seem natural to dispose of empty printer cartridges in the residual waste. But that’s not necessarily the right approach. It is better to take the ink or toner cartridge to a recycling center or a collection point for empty cartridges. Some of these collection points are in offices or at places where you can also buy new cartridges. Proper disposal is an important step in recycling: the materials in the cartridge are lost when they are disposed of in the household waste. However, if you give the cartridge to a collection point instead, the materials can be returned to the material cycle and processed further. Overall, fewer materials have to be used to produce new ink cartridges.
You should never empty ink cartridges that are still full in the toilet or sink. This, like improper disposal of the cartridge itself, can harm the environment. In addition to empty ink cartridges, all recycling centers also accept half-empty and full cartridges for recycling. Improper disposal can also result in fines.
Where can I hand in empty printer cartridges?
Central statement. In Germany, printer cartridges and toner cartridges are still largely disposed of with the residual waste. However, empty printer cartridges and toner cartridges should be given priority to the return systems offered by the manufacturer and other organizations.
There are two types of printer cartridges: ink cartridges and toner cartridges. Ink cartridges contain liquid, toner cartridges are filled with powder.
You must not dispose of printer cartridges with household waste. This is forbidden by law!
Instead, take them to a recycling center, electronics store, or mail them to the manufacturer or a refill company.
You even get money back for some cartridges: There are companies that will pay you up to 13 euros per empty cartridge.
Ink cartridges and toner cartridges: These are the differences
There are inkjet printers and laser beam printers. One printer works with ink cartridges, laser printers use toner cartridges. But what is the difference between the two printing processes? The name already gives it away: Ink cartridges contain liquid ink. A toner, on the other hand, prints with the help of very fine powder. In the price comparison, the ink cartridges perform better: an ink cartridge for the printer costs around 30 euros on average, while an original toner cartridge costs up to 150 euros. However, toners make up for their high price with their long service life: They use significantly less powder and can print up to 3,500 pages. The ink cartridge only fills 200 pages.
Can I still do something with my unused toner cartridges?
Do you have toner from the laser printer that is no longer compatible with your current model? Instead of simply throwing them away, you can sell them to certain providers or even donate them. Of course, you won’t earn as much from a sale as you previously spent on the cartridge. Still, this can be a “damage limitation” step: getting some money is still better than making nothing at all from free disposal. To find appropriate facilities, just look on the Internet. Try it e.g. at dietonerverwerter.de or eBay classifieds.
Anyone who has a printer at home is often faced with the question of how to properly dispose of old or empty cartridges and cartridges. The printer cartridges and cartridges may contain liquids or dust that are hazardous to health or the environment. Here you can find out how to dispose of them safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.
Returns to distributors and manufacturers
In order to enable these used cartridges and cartridges to be reused and refilled, the most suitable way is to hand them over to distributors (trade, where new cartridges and cartridges can also be bought, as well as electronics stores) or to the manufacturers. It is best to inquire about return options when you make your purchase. You can also find information on this directly from the distributors. Sometimes even a small amount is refunded upon return.
Printer manufacturer recycling programs
Printer manufacturers make billions from the sale of ink cartridges and toner cartridges. It is therefore absolutely correct that they are legally obliged to take back the empties and to take care of the recycling. The good news: printer manufacturers take their responsibility for the environment seriously and have set up their own recycling programs for empty ink cartridges and toner cartridges in recent years.
You are making an important contribution to environmental protection. After all, the empty cartridges can usually be completely recycled, so that no recyclable material ends up in the landfill. Many new ink cartridges and toner cartridges today consist largely of recycled plastic from old containers. Returning is easy for consumers. When you buy original cartridges from a printer manufacturer, you will usually find information about returning empty cartridges in addition to some product information in the packaging. Companies such as Brother, Canon, Epson and HP offer free take-back programs for consumers (see list of links below).
Consumers can request shipping labels or print them out directly via the manufacturer’s website. The rest is then child’s play: pack the empty original cartridges, stick the shipping label on them and take them to the post office. Shipping is free. However, some manufacturers have black lists: They don’t want every type of cartridge back!
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