How and Why to Recycle Your Toner Cartridges

Managed print services in Las Vegas can lower costs and make printing more productive and efficient. What many companies don’t realize is that MPS can also make your business more environmentally friendly. One way they do that is through the recycling of toner cartridges.

Toner Is a Hazardous Material

What you may not realize is that toner is generally made up of plastic polymers. Inside the cartridge, it’s maintained in a dust-like form and heated prior to being fused with the paper. This material is recognized as a hazardous material, and while a single cartridge may not be a huge deal, it certainly adds up when you consider all of the offices throughout the state that are discarding cartridges regularly.

Other Reasons to Recycle

Toner cartridges can be refilled and reused. In fact, the average cartridge can be used in this manner 15 times. There are more than 1.3 billion cartridges in use across the globe, and estimates suggest that only 30% of them are actually being recycled. Imagine if every cartridge made was reused 15 times. Now, factor in that you need about a gallon of oil for each new cartridge manufactured.

Recycling Through Your MPS Provider

Most MPS providers offer recycling services for all the reusable products that they supply their customers. If you are unsure, contact them. This service is usually provided at no additional cost, and even if the provider does not recycle directly, it may be able to point you in the right direction.

Are There Other Options?

If perhaps you don’t use MPS or your provider is unable to help, there are other options. There are recycling operations in Nevada and throughout the U.S. who do it, and most of them do it at no cost to you. In fact, many provide prepaid labels that you can print out!