Recycling is the movement of the generation, embraced by all and denied by none. Although that doesn't mean that it is necessarily a straightforward process. There are caveats to recycling that must be accounted for, but with the right education and precision you can take a stand on the war against waste and avoid disaster in the process. When it comes to recycling your printer cartridges, it is not as simple as tossing them in the yellow bins. But it doesn't have to be complicated either. Here is what you need to know.
Know what you can recycle
The hardest part about recycling is knowing what you can recycle. This appears to be a grey area for many domestic and commercial recyclers. There is so much information available on the advantages of recycling, but little information about what actually can be recycled. It surprises many to learn HP printer cartridges can be recycled, with the parts broken down to create future cartridges.
These metals and minerals are extracted in special-made machinery which separates and restores the cartridges parts. Arguably, the more multifaceted the item the more likely it is to have elements that can be extracted and re-purposed.
The process of recycling your printer cartridges
Close The Loop are the leaders in sustainability that need no introduction. Responsible for the collection and recycling of hundreds of home and office units, Close The Loop have revolutionized cartridge recycling making it an industry expectation. Typically the collected printer cartridges are recorded and sent back to the original manufacturer. The units will then be separated by their unique parts and are broken down in accordance with that compound make up. While each brand is unique, they are ultimately made up of similar compounds.
Put it in the correct place
It is most convenient and preferable to recycle at your own workplace, so explore how your workplace can facilitate this process. If recycling outside of your office, you will have to abide by the laws and use the correct drop off sites. These destinations are in central locations in all states in Australia. Familiarize yourself with the recycling locations that you can hand in your printer cartridges, and share this location with your other department leads.
There are different recycling drop off points for metal, plastic, glass and paper-based units - so make sure you are not simply dropping your cartridges off to a location where they will again need to be moved from.
Understanding the dangers of recycling
Recycling, as innocuous as it seems, does come with some recycling dangers that need to be respected to be avoided. Just as batteries and chemicals need to be recycled in specific locations, so too do your printer cartridges.
For offices who are attempting to recycle their cartridges in-house, to either get more longevity from their cartridge or to send on to the manufacturer, this process will be as dangerous as it is unsuccessful. The compilation of these cartridge units have been designed and engineered to serve the purpose of printing, not to be deconstructed by those unqualified.
There are many processes and practices to avoid when it comes to recycling, but if you are committed to the cause you can easily get into habits that will benefit your business and the environment as a whole. Set the intention of educating your greater workforce and suppliers on your commitment to recycling your printer cartridges, so you can be held to a higher standard of business operating.