Cartridge Recycling Program

Facts About the Environmental Impact of Printer Cartridges

• It takes about a gallon of oil to make a new laser cartridge.
• Almost 8 cartridges are thrown away per second in the United States alone!
• In North America alone, over 350 million cartridges per year are discarded in our landfills, and that number increases by 12 percent annually!
• Every remanufactured laser cartridge saves nearly 2.5 pounds of metal & plastic waste from being deposited in landfills.
• A laser cartridge thrown into landfill can take up to 450 years to decompose. Some components made of industrial grade plastics will take over a thousand years to decompose.
• 70 percent of used printer cartridges throughout the world are currently being thrown out.
• In one year, if the world’s discarded cartridges were stacked end-to-end; they would circle the earth over three times.

Did You Know?

• Most printer cartridges can be refilled or remanufactured.
• By bringing your used cartridges to Mr. Computer, you can help protect our environment, and save substantially compared to the cost of a new cartridge!

Mr. Computer is dedicated to saving consumers, businesses, and the planet!

Empty toner cartridges and drum units need not be disposed immediately. If you have the technical know-how; schedule the remanufacturing or replacement of worn out drum or toner components as your next do-it-yourself project. Reusing empty cartridges and drums helps delay the consumables’ likely trip to landfills and incinerators.

Around 60% of toner cartridge components are recyclable while the remaining 40% can be taken apart and forwarded to recycling centers.

Replenishing the toner supply of empty toner cartridges is another important recycling activity as refilling extends the serviceable life of the toner cartridge. This is not only an environment friendly gesture but also budget friendly as toner refill kits are cheaper by as much as 80% than OEM replacement toner cartridges.