As your business is booming, your cartridge ink is also finishing in a rapid mode, which is good for your business revenue!  

But do you know that ink Cartridges make up to 375 million landfill loads yearly? Over a million cartridges are disposed on daily basis, or every 11  second from sunrise to sunset. Which is indeed a significant portion of waste which could have been easily managed.  

As you have understood the figures, what will you do with the unused cartridge’s remains? Are you going to stack it in any random corner of your office space, or is there anything else you plan on?  

Even if you have no plans, through this article, we suggest  few of the best ideas that you can do with the unused printer cartridges, and we shall also help you find out the printer cartridge expiration period for you to figure out its right disposal period. 

 

What to do with unused printer ink cartridges? 

 

There was a need to replace your old printer toner cartridges because it just blew off. The ink cartridges, however, is now unused.  

It is not necessary to throw them away and it is not even advised to throw them away.   

What you can possible do is to choose an environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible alternative ink cartridge disposal techniques. 

 

Sell your unused printer ink cartridges 

 You can quickly sell the unused toner cartridges for cash at various online sites in Australia. However, if you plan to sell the toner, ensure they are genuine products with original equipment number (OEM) and has factory seal.  

Searching for the printer ink cartridges on the internet can lead you to various sites that buy unused and used ink cartridges.  

Your local newspaper’s classified ads may also be a good source if you plan to sell them at your next yard sale or next garage sale. 

Apart from the physical sale, online sales has become a easier option!  

The ethical disposal of surplus cartridges is no longer hassel for you as there are plenty of ink cartridge buyer availble in online platforms.  

You can simply sell the unused quality units to them and earn quick cash while reducing your environmental impact. 

It is important to select a website or vendor that assures you with a fair competitive price and excellent customer service when purchasing unused cartridges.  

It’s a definite win-win situation for you.  

As you get rid of your unused toner cartidge you will also walk away smiling and with cash in your pocket. 

But do remember the buyback vendors do not buy used or empty cartridges, generics, compatibles, or generics refilled or sold! 

Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, they only purchase brand new, original, and genuine factory-sealed products. If the cartridges are packaged in the original retail box and good condition, you can sell any quantity of genuine name-brand toners and inks to the online vendors.  

 

Recycle your unused printer toner cartridges 

In recent years, toner cartridge recycling has become a part of the recycling chain.  

Recycling involves regaining the original properties of waste products to produce new products. It is possible to repulp paper and make new paper products from it. It is also possible to re-pour, or press, recycled metal after melting it down. 

Through print cartridge recycling, we can preserve resources while keeping hazardous electronic 

components out of landfills at the same time. 

It is said that through e-waste it is possible to find lead, mercury, cadmium, phosphors, and other potentially hazardous compounds which can be dangerous for the environment.  

Old electronics including ink cartridge shouldn’t be disposed of in landfills as their is a high possibilities of contamination of the groundwater or soil, and you shouldn’t crush or burn them for their is a likeable chances of air pollution.  

Ink and toner cartridges are also part of e-waste that must be recycled properly. 

So how can you recycle printer cartridges? 

Get them to an office supply store 

Many office supply retailers will gladly accept your used or unused cartridges.  

Most office supply stores will recycle ink and toner cartridges, so if you have one search for vendor for printer cartridges near me and check their website! 

Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, and Best Buy offer free return program. You can click “Drop it off” on the retailer locator to find your local store if it is an authorised collection center. 

If you have difficulty finding the drop-off location, you can inquire at the customer service desk or look near where the toner is recycled.  

By returning your empty toners, you are helping the planet and reducing landfill and waterway waste. While you won’t receive money or credit, you are supporting and addressing the environmental issues from your own personal end. 

Using the mail to recycle ink cartridges 

A mail-in recycling program is available to recycle printer cartridges. 

Most major manufacturers usually cover shipping costs for the print cartridges recycling. 

Cartridges that have been empty for some time can be recycled with the packaging they came in. 

Especially after the era of COVID quarantines, recycling by mail became a convenient option. 

Printer cartridge disposal through mail is best as you can remain assured that the manufacturer or a recycler of similar quality will handle them properly and you don’t have to search for store locaters who actually offer toner recycling serive. 

 

Make use of a recycling toner collection unit. 

Printing responsibly also requires the maintenance of toner collection units (TCU) and collection kits.  

TCUs can only be returned with toner cartridges. You can also recycle fuser kits and transfer kits, which are consumable components of toner. At present, this option is only available to large enterprises. 

By following these steps, you can use TCU’s cartridges for planet ark safely and efficiently: 

1. Release the latches on the front of your printer’s door 
2. Make sure any toner dust covering the TCU is removed 
3. You will receive a plastic bag along with the new TCU that you need to place the full TCU. 
4. Your next batch of used toner cartridges should be shipped in a sealed bag with the collection kit. 

 

Donate the unused toner printer ink  

The following cartridges are accepted: inkjet, toner cartridges, and toner bottles. Printer, photocopier, and fax cartridges also fall under this category. 

You can return your used or empty laser and inkjet cartridges at: 

• Officeworks locations 
• Australia Post stores 
• Cartridge World stores 
• Harvey Norman stores 
• The Good Guys stores  
• JB Hi-Fi stores, and  
• Office National and Office Products Depot stores.  

  

Where to recycle printer cartridges of different brands in Australia? 

  

An empty toner cartridge that no longer works can be sold to third parties for cash.  

Remanufactured cartridges are cleaned, refilled, and resold. Choosing an organisation that is most beneficial to you will require you to do a bit research in regards of their shipping rates.  

Many options are available for recycling empty toner cartridges, so recycling them is often easier. Mail-in recycling programs are available from nearly all cartridge manufacturers.  

Let’s examine each one in more detail. 

 

Canon toner ink  

Canon strives to reduce landfill waste to zero. 

The company offers a no-cost program for recycling and collecting  

Canon inkjet cartridges. Inkjet cartridges were prevented from being disposed of in landfills after the introduction of this program. 

Inkjet cartridges from Canon can be recycled easily. There are over 1,600 FedEx Office Print & Ship Centers where you can drop off your empty Canon ink cartridges. 

Visit Canon’s recycling page to learn more. 

 

Epson toner ink  

Using Epson products is free, and customers can send them back for recycling. As part of Epson’s Product Stewardship Program, Epson ink and toner cartridges can be recycled. 

Printers and scanners are also recycled for free through Epson’s recycling program.  

Toner and ink cartridges from Epson can be easily mailed for recycling. 

You can avoid leaks by placing your empty Epson printer cartridges inside a plastic bag and sealing it with tape.  

Keeping Epson ink and toner cartridges out of landfills is an important part of Epson’s commitment to respecting the earth. 

 

Xerox toner ink  

The company also provides free shipping boxes if you recycle your empty toner cartridges locally.  

Beside cartridges, business machines made by Xerox can also be recycled. 

Xerox will cover the recycling costs, and pay the shipping cost for you if you are into saving the earth.  

As part of the Green World Alliance recycling program, Xerox claims that over 2.5 million cartridges and toner containers are returned annually.  

 

Samsung ink toner  

Samsung supports responsible recycling.  

In addition to following HP’s recycling procedures, Samsung also follows many of its own.  

But most of the Samsung Computer equipment and printing supplies are recycled through HP Planet Partners Program. 

Dell cartridges toner  

You’re encouraged to take your empty Dell ink cartridges to a recycling centre or you can take up the mail-back recycling program.  

The company has partnered with FedEx to provide free shipping. With Sharp toner and ink cartridges, you can responsibly recycle the dell toner!  

 

Brother toner ink  

Keeping the company’s environmental impact to a minimum is the goal of Brother’s recycling program.  

Recycling Brother printer cartridges is as easy as reusing the carton they came in. Activate a USPS SmartLabel for free shipping through a Brother account. Create a Brother account if you don’t already have one. 

You can recycle Brother cartridges by sending them back in the cardboard boxes they came in. 

The Brother printer cartridge recycling program is free if you use genuine Brother printer cartridges. Ink cartridges, toner and ribbon cartridges, drum units, and P-Touch tape cassettes are also accepted by this program. 

 

How to check the toner expiry? 

 

The lore surrounding ink cartridges has been circulating the internet for a long time. 

Does it make sense to refill or not? Refurbished or new cartridges? Would you prefer HP or Brother? 

Ink cartridge technology has evolved along with consumer chatter about buying ink. 

Compared to other printing materials, toner  doesnot expire over time, although it can degrade over time (generally, there is no expiration date). 

It is true that toner cartridges last much longer than ink cartridges. Ink cartridges dry out due to their powder structure. 

As cartridges wear down, other components usually determine the toner expiration date instead of the toner itself. 

 

What is the average lifespan of toner? 

 

The lifespan of an item can be extended almost indefinitely if it is appropriately stored and taken care of properly. 

You might, however, notice some dates when you purchase toner cartridges. Cartridge manufacturers will provide two dates (sometimes printed on the cartridge): one for the warranty expiration and another for the expiration date. 

 

How do you check the expiration of the printer ink/toner? 

 

Make sure you take note of two dates when you receive your new cartridges. 

An expiration date will appear on the OEM’s box, indicating the end of the warranty (usually a year). 

Secondly the manufacturer specifies a warranty period.  

A cartridge’s packaging or sometimes even the cartridge itself will include this information (usually for ink). 

Refurbished cartridges may have already passed their expiration date when you buy them, so don’t be surprised. Original equipments are the ones with the expiration date. 

 

When toner expires, what do you do? 

 

Slow ink liquids will clog and damage your print head if you try to use it. The powder will clump up as moisture enters the cartridge over time. 

Toner lasts longer than ink because this process takes a lot longer. 

In some cases, people usually utilise cartridges that have passed their expiration date by more than three years which technically is classified as “expired”. 

However, you could lose your printer’s warranty if you do this. You can purchase new cartridges from an OEM after your toner has expired or buy refurbished ones for a lower price. 

 

Conclusion  

 

You won’t notice the consequences of using expired toner quickly if you continue to use it.  

A device’s warranty could be revoked if a problem relating to expired cartridges requires service, repair, or replacement. You would be left high and dry without support to fix or replace your printer. 

There are no regulations concerning the disposal of used printer/toner/inkjet cartridges as hazardous waste, but they should be recycled if they are in good condition. It is best to return these cartridges to the manufacturer for recycling purpose.