Thursday, February 10, 2011

Remanufactured Ink Cartridges make Cents!

By Wanda Z Clunkezey


Before you buy that next set of printer ink cartridges, you should consider a few facts. Recycling your old units and buying remanufactured has many benefits both to the planet and to the consumer. Knowledge of these benefits can help make the decision for you.

Many stores agree that recycling them is important and have become involved by promoting programs that allow their customers to earn points for each empty one that is returned to the store to be recycled. Remanufactured cartridges typically cost as much as 30 percent less than those that are sold new. That alone is a great reason to buy them.

As anyone that uses an inkjet printer can attest to, these printers can use up a lot of ink. Sometimes it seems as if they have run dry overnight. Everyone that is refilled keeps another one out of the landfills. All of the metal and industrial grade plastic that ends up in the landfills each year can be drastically reduced by using remanufactured products.

Recycling them is not only beneficial because it keeps them out of the landfill, but is also the ideal way to save on valuable resources and conserve energy. Each one needs oil, steel, and aluminum to be made. Oil is a non-renewable resource and should be conserved whenever possible.

One option is to purchase a kit and refill the empty units on your own. The kits often include a recyclable plastic bottle of ink, a syringe or other tool to put the ink in the unit, and directions on how to do it. This practice makes recycling and reusing your own empty cartridges easier and more cost effective than ever before.

If you are unsure about how to go about recycling your empties, contact the store where you normally buy your new ones. They will usually accept used ones and many times offer incentives that might include cash or store credit as a trade for the used ones.

It is common to hear discouraging words from printer manufacturers that try to claim that using a remanufactured unit will void the warranty. This is simply not true. In the United States it is illegal for any manufacturer to make such a claim. It is rare for a refilled ink cartridge to cause any problems that will void a warranty.

Choosing remanufactured printer ink cartridges is one of the best changes that you can make for your planet. It is green and is easy on you financially. They are much cheaper than buying used ones while being guaranteed to print the same top quality as new ones do. They can usually be refilled 2 or more times and then, when recycled, will be disposed of the proper way, ensuring they do not end up in the landfill.




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